July 25, 2002
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette's Bob Heffner, who has served as the assistant head football coach since March of 2001, has been promoted to associate head football coach, it was announced today by Leopards' head football coach Frank Tavani.
During the 2001 season, Heffner coached a Lafayette offensive line that led the Patriot League in sacks allowed with just 11, edging the other seven league members by at least five sacks. The Leopards' offensive line also helped Lafayette average 395.8 total yards per game, which included a league-best 265.1 yards passing average.
"Bob Heffner is clearly one of the best offensive line coaches in the country," said Tavani, who enters his third season as the Leopards' head coach. "We are extremely fortunate to have him at Lafayette."
Heffner previously served as an assistant coach with Lafayette teams that captured the 1988 and 1994 Patriot League championships. He is in his second year back on College Hill after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland for four seasons, including two as the Terrapins' offensive coordinator.
"I am honored by the promotion and greatly appreciate it," said Heffner. "Lafayette is a great place to work and a great place to raise a family."
While at Maryland, Heffner helped lead the Terrapins to the 10th-highest scoring average in school history. His offensive unit ranked first in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and 12th nationally in rushing yards per game (234.1 avg.) and allowed an ACC-low 11 sacks in 251 throwing situations.
Heffner joined the Maryland staff in 1997 after serving as the offensive line coach at Northern Illinois in 1996. He 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 from 1988-89.
Between his coaching stops at Lafayette, Heffner spent four seasons 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 (CFL).
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-America recognition and eight claim first-team all-conference honors. In addition, three running backs posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
A 1979 graduate of Temple University 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. 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.
Lafayette begins preseason practice with the incoming freshmen on Monday, Aug. 12, while the first full-squad practice is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15. The Leopards officially open the 2002 season on Sept. 7 by hosting Monmouth in the first of three straight home contests to start the schedule.
