March 23, 2006

By MIKE BYKER, Dordt Sports Information (Edited by Dawn Harmon, NAIA)

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - Dordt College (Iowa) hired John Heavner as the school's first head football coach.  Heavner's tenure will begin on June 1 of this year.

Heavner, a Norman, Oklahoma native, was selected from more than 100 individuals who expressed an interest in the position.  Heavner  spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA DII East Central University (Okla.) where he served as the receivers coach from 1998-2002 before being appointed as offensive coordinator in 2003.   Heavner was also East Central's recruiting coordinator from 2001-2004.  Most recently NCAA DIAA , Heavner was the quarterbacks coach at Missouri State University.

"I am eager for the opportunity to lead the Dordt football program from its infancy, into a highly respected program that helps each of its student-athletes reach their full potential spiritually, academically, athletically and socially," says Heavner.

Heavner, a graduate of Norman High School, was a member of the 1992 state championship team.  He received his bachelor's degree in political science from East Central University in 1999 and earned his master's degree in education in 2000.

Heavner and his wife, Tiffany, have a son, Caleb.

In its fall meeting in October, 2005, the Dordt College Board of Trustees adopted a recommendation to proceed with the implementation of a football program at Dordt College.  A search committee was formed shortly after to seek Dordt College's first football coach.

A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), Dordt is a four-year comprehensive college, offering more than 50 areas of study along with a graduate program in education.

Dordt will field a junior varsity team in 2007 with a full varsity schedule in 2008. Dordt becomes the 12th school in Great Plains Athletic Conference to offer football.