Family Affair for Ho Ching and the Lumberjacks

Tausagafou “Fou” Ho Ching is known around the Big Sky Conference as a massive disruptor on the defensive line. He’s targeted in game plans and often double-teamed. Fou is also a team captain, a difference-maker and a leader by example; he anchors the Northern Arizona Football defense with intensity, but is also the first to pump up a teammate after a big play.

But for those who know him best, his most important titles don’t come with tackles or sacks. They come at home or after practice, where he is best known as Dad and Husband.

The Upland, Calif. native has traveled a long road to Flagstaff. After high school, Fou left the game he’d played since he was 3 years old to serve a two-year church mission in Barcelona. And yes, he is fluent in Spanish.

The time in Europe was life-changing, but stepping away from football for the first time proved to be difficult. When he returned, he battled injuries, including a broken ankle that cost him another season, before finding his way to the Dark Sky City through Chaffey College and Houston Christian.

“Coach (Adam) Clark and Coach (Brian) Wright really made an impact on my decision,” Fou says. “Praying about it with my wife, we knew this is where we needed to be. And it’s been incredible. It’s not just being part of this football team, but being part of the community.”

Fou and his wife, Lucinda, met briefly while serving their missions in Spain. Different areas. Different timing, but knew of each other. Their connection grew stronger back home after an event, and they married in 2022. Today, their two young children—son Tausagafou John II and daughter Eileen Pearl—are as much a part of the Lumberjack family as their dad.

“My son calls my teammates uncles,” Fou says with a massive smile. “He loves going to practice. He thinks he’s part of the team. In a way, he’s not wrong.”

Lucinda sees that family atmosphere firsthand. “The NAU staff, teammates and donors have been incredible,” she says. “From watching our kids so we could have a date night, to cooking me meals when I was freshly postpartum, there has been nothing but an outpouring of love from coaches, their families, and the Jackwagon members. They’ve truly taken us in as family.”

That sense of support was on full display last Thanksgiving. With the Lumberjacks preparing for a weekend game, Lucinda went into labor. Coaches and teammates kept Fou’s phone close at practice, waiting for the call. When it came, the whole team stopped, clapped and cheered as Fou sprinted off the field to be with his wife. Hours later, their daughter, Eileen Pearl, was born.

“It could have easily been a moment where people felt like I was getting special treatment,” Fou says. “But instead, everybody was celebrating with me. That’s been one of the highlights of my time at NAU, just knowing my family is supported every step of the way.”

Balancing school, football, and family isn’t easy. Fou admits there are days he wonders if he’s giving enough to each role. But his guiding principle is simple — be present.

“The best advice I’ve gotten is to be 100% where you’re at,” he says. “If I’m at practice, I’m fully at practice. If I’m home, I’m fully with my kids and my wife. If I’m in class, I’m fully focused there. It’s not always easy, but that’s how I try to handle it.”

That maturity makes him more than just a captain on the field. Teammates often turn to him for advice about life outside of it, including relationships, marriage and priorities. “Some guys call me the father of the team,” Fou laughs. “I don’t see myself as wise, but if I can help them, I’ll give the best advice I can.”

As NAU prepares for Family Weekend, there may be no better example of what it means to be “All In” than the Ho Ching family. From the trenches on Saturday afternoons to quiet moments at home on Mondays, Fou’s journey is a reminder that football is family.

“My wife is amazing,” Fou says. “None of this is possible without her. She carries the load when I’m gone, she supports me through the ups and downs, and she makes sure our kids know their dad is chasing his dream while also loving them every step of the way.”

For the Ho Chings, and for the Lumberjacks, Family Weekend is more than just a theme. It’s a way of life. It’s also a life that hopes to bring future NAU student-athletes.

And while sacks and tackles may fill the box scores, what truly defines Fou’s legacy at NAU is the love he shares with his wife, his kids, his teammates and a community that has embraced them as their own.

In every way, the Ho Chings represent what it means to be part of the Lumberjack family: resilient, faithful, and always together.