Hoeft twice played for Otago in shield challenges and both times the blue and golds went down in heartbreaking fashion.
In 2000, Otago lost 29-26 to Canterbury, Caleb Ralph scoring the winning try for the home team.
A couple of years later, Otago went down 16-13, again to Canterbury on a wet night in Christchurch.
Hoeft propped the Otago scrum both times but he will be on the other side of the ledger on Friday night when Otago takes on Waikato.
Hoeft is now the assistant coach of Waikato, and is not holding out any sentiment for his old provincial side.
''No, I'm all Waikato now. I've got fond memories of my time down there but Waikato is where I am at now,'' Hoeft said.
''We've got a good team going here and we want to hold on to the shield. We'll be mates after the game.''
Hoeft played 78 games for Otago as a loosehead prop from 1996 to 2005 and also played 30 tests for the All Blacks. He appeared numerous times in the blue and gold with Otago coach Tony Brown and Otago scrum coach Kees Meeuws.
He left Otago in 2005, intending to go to France for 18 months and see out his career. He ended up playing for another 6 years.
''I think here when you get to 28-29 they start calling you a veteran and start pensioning you off. When I got to France I was just 31 and kept playing until I was 37.
''When I got there I didn't feel as old. There were guys up there who were still running around, and they were 40. It is pretty physical over there and the weather has a big effect on things.
''I think it has changed a bit here now. You've got guys like Brad Thorn, Horey [Andrew Hore], who have shown you can play when you're a bit older.''
Hoeft said he considered coming back to Dunedin when he ended playing in France at the end of 2011 - his furnishings were still in storage in Dunedin - but decided to head back home to the North Island.
He wanted his children around family, who are all based around the Thames and Waikato area.
Hoeft grew up in Thames while his wife, Debbie was brought up on a dairy farm near Morrinsville.
He started helping out with Waikato last year but after last year's coach, Chris Gibbes, moved to Wales in June this year, Hoeft went up the ranks.
''I was just sort of helping out with the scrum and the lineout really. Then Chris left and we had to go through a process to appoint someone. But we did not have the time to change too much.''
Hoeft has joined with John Walters to coach the Mooloos, and the former Pirates man said the off-field issues were just as big as what was happening on the paddock.
''There are quite a few different things to get to know. You've got to know more stuff than just about rugby. Get to know the people and players more. I'm learning all of that stuff.''
Hoeft said Waikato was just about getting the players to improve and that meant creating the best environment and culture for them to perform at their best.
He was enjoying the role, and had a small lifestyle block just out of Hamilton, with Debbie amd children Noah (10) and Nikita (8).
As for what is going to happen on Friday night, Hoeft said there was plenty of work ahead.
''We've just go to make sure we prepare properly and do the job this week. If you do not put in the hard work then you can't get any reward.''
