Audio from interview with GoLeopards.com

• Lafayette Assistant Head Coach Bob Heffner

March 10, 2001

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette football program has named Bob Heffner the assistant head football coach. Heffner, who previously served as an assistant football coach with Lafayette teams that captured the 1988 and 1992 Patriot League championships, returns to College Hill after serving as the offensive coordinator at the University of Maryland for the past two seasons.

The hiring of Heffner, who will coach the Leopards' offensive line, marks the fourth new member of head coach Frank Tavani's staff who comes to Lafayette from a NCAA Division I-A program. Offensive coordinator Mike Faragalli previously worked at Bowling Green, while defensive coordinator John Loose came from Army, and assistant coach Matt Hachmann also joined the staff from Maryland. Heffner fills the void created when John Strollo left the Lafayette staff after five seasons to become offensive coordinator at Cornell last month.

"The return of Bob Heffner to Lafayette's football coaching staff speaks well to the direction Frank Tavani has the program headed in," said Lafayette Director of Athletics Eve Atkinson. "Bob's experience in successfully recruiting quality student-athletes to Lafayette will be an immediate asset. We are thrilled to have him back at Lafayette."

"I am really excited to add another former Division I-A coach to the staff, especially someone who possesses a tremendous knowledge of the College," said Tavani. "Bob was a big part of two Patriot League championships here at Lafayette. He knows what it takes to produce a winner in this conference and he will be instrumental in getting this program back to championship level."

In Heffner's first season directing the Terrapins' offensive unit, Maryland posted the 10th-highest scoring average in school history and its best in the previous seven seasons. Maryland ranked first in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and 12th nationally in rushing yards per game (234.1), and tailback LaMont Jordan earned second-team All-America honors after finishing fifth in the country in rushing. Maryland also continued to show significant improvement in protecting its quarterback in 1999, allowing an ACC-low 11 sacks in 251 throwing situations. In addition, Maryland led the ACC in turnover margin and went from last to fourth in total offense.

"It's exciting to be back at Lafayette and working with a great friend," said Heffner. "This is a great place. We have won championships here before and we're going to win them again. I know the excitement that surrounds this place when you are league champions."

"Plus, coming back to Lafayette is as close to coming home in this business that I can think of," added Heffner. "It is a nice family move. Of all the places that I have worked at, there is no place that has a better quality of life for your family than Lafayette."

Heffner joined the Maryland staff after serving as offensive line coach at Northern Illinois in 1996. Heffner coached at Lafayette for a total of five seasons on two separate occasions prior to Northern Illinois. He was Lafayette's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1993-95 and offensive line coach in 1988-89.

Between his coaching stops at Lafayette, Heffner spent four years in the professional ranks. He served as the director of player personnel and offensive coordinator for the Arena League champion Tampa Bay Storm in 1993 and as offensive line and running backs coach for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

During his time with British Columbia, the Lions' Doug Flutie was voted the CFL's Most Valuable Player after setting the league record for passing yards in a season, and Jim Mills was named the league's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in 1990 and 1991.

Heffner began his collegiate coaching career with Illinois State as the interior defensive line coach in 1981 before taking over as offensive line coach during a seven-year stay with the Redbirds. Under his guidance, Illinois State had two offensive linemen earn All-American recognition and eight claim first-team all-conference honors. In addition, three backs posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

A 1979 graduate of Temple with a bachelor of science degree in education, Heffner earned three letters as an offensive guard and played on Owl teams that made Mirage Bowl appearances in 1977 and 1978. He then served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater in 1979, helping the Owls to a Garden State Bowl victory over California that same year. One year later, he served as an assistant football coach and teacher at North Hunterdon (N.J.) High School.

Heffner, and his wife, Nancy, a native of Warren Glen, N.J., have three daughters, Katie, Molly and Shelby.

THE HEFFNER FILE

EDUCATION

• Temple University, Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, 1979

COACHING EXPERIENCE

• University of Maryland, offensive coordinator, 1999-2000. Tight ends and offensive tackles coach, 1997-98.
  
• Northern Illinois University, offensive line coach, 1996.
  
• Lafayette College, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, 1993-95.
  
• Tampa Bay Storm (Arena Football League), director of player personnel and offensive coordinator, 1993.
  
• British Columbia Lions (Canadian Football League), offensive coordinator - offensive line, running backs, 1990-92.
  
• Lafayette College, offensive line coach, 1988-89.
  
• Illinois State University, offensive line coach, interior defensive line coach, 1981-87.

BOWL HISTORY
1979 - Garden State Bowl
1978 - Mirage Bowl
1977 - Mirage Bowl

PERSONAL

• Born Aug. 2, 1956
  
• Native of Yardley, Pa.
  
• Married with three daughters