Illini promote assistant wrestling coach

CHAMPAIGN - Long-time Illini assistant coach Jim Heffernan has been promoted to head wrestling coach, Illinois director of athletics Ron Guenther announced today.

Heffernan has been the top assistant under recently retired head coach Mark Johnson for the past 17 years at Illinois and two previous seasons at Oregon State.

"Jim has been an assistant in our program for the past 17 years and was an integral part of the program's success," Guenther said. "Jim had an exceptional career as a collegiate wrestler and is well respected in the wrestling community. I look forward to working with him to advance our program to the next level."

Heffernan, 45, was as an assistant coach on the Illini staff throughout Johnson's tenure as well as the two seasons they spent at Oregon State prior to coming to Champaign. Heffernan has helped guide Illinois to 10 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships and has helped produce seven national champions, 45 All-Americans and 120 NCAA qualifiers.

"I feel extremely fortunate to remain at Illinois as the next head wrestling coach, as this is where I want to finish my career," Heffernan said.

He has twice been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 1995 and 2001, and he also was named the AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003.

A 1987 graduate of the University of Iowa, Heffernan was a four-time All-American and the 150-pound NCAA champion in 1986. He earned Iowa's Male Athlete of the Year honor in 1987 and was a four-time Big Ten champion. He also led the Hawkeyes to three NCAA championships and four Big Ten titles during his time in Iowa City.