Cynthia Lou Kelly Heupel, the mother of former Oklahoma quarterback and co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, died on May 14 at her home in Edmond. She was 69.
Cindy, a Fargo, North Dakota native, has committed her life to education, graduating from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, before pursuing her Master’s degree.
She was the principal at Aberdeen Central High School when it received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
In 1976, she married Ken Heupel. On March 22, 1978, she gave birth to Josh, the first of her two children.
Josh was Oklahoma’s quarterback from 1999 to 2000. He was the Heisman runner-up in 2000, with 3,392 passing yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, and he led the unbeaten Sooners to the national championship.
Josh worked as a graduate assistant for OU in 2004. He subsequently returned to Norman to coach the Sooners’ quarterbacks from 2006 to 2010 and co-offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014. He is now the head coach at Tennessee.
“Cindy loved watching Josh achieve his dreams as a college quarterback and football coach,” according to her funeral announcement. “Cindy was quick to celebrate, above all, the character of her children, rejoicing in Josh’s leadership and care of others…”
