Jeff Hecklinski
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jeff Hecklinski
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title =
| current_team =
| current_conference =
| current_record =
| contract =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|2|18}}
| birth_place = Palatine, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1994
| player_team1 = Illinois
| player_years2 = 1995–1997
| player_team2 = Western Illinois
| player_years3 = 1998
| player_team3 = Albany Firebirds
| coach_years1 = 1998
| coach_team1 = Benedictine (QB/WR)
| coach_years2 = 1999–2000
| coach_team2 = Fort Scott C.C. (OC)
| coach_years3 = 2001–2002
| coach_team3 = Central Missouri St. (OC)
| coach_years4 = 2003
| coach_team4 = Arizona (QB/PGC)
| coach_years5 = 2004–2008
| coach_team5 = Ball State (WR)
| coach_years6 = 2009–2010
| coach_team6 = San Diego State (AHC/RB)
| coach_years7 = 2011–2014
| coach_team7 = Michigan (WR)
| coach_years8 = 2015
| coach_team8 = CSU Pueblo (QB/PGC)
| coach_years9 = 2016
| coach_team9 = Illinois (TE/ST)
| coach_years10 = 2017–2018
| coach_team10 = Indiana State (OC/QB/RC)
| coach_years11 = 2019
| coach_team11 = Kansas (TE)
| coach_years12 = 2020–2022
| coach_team12 = San Diego State (OC/QB)
| overall_record =
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Jeff Hecklinski (born February 18, 1974) is an American football coach and former player. He was most recently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at San Diego State University from 2020–2022.
A highly-rated high school quarterback, Hecklinski enrolled at the University of Illinois in 1993, but transferred to Western Illinois University (WIU) in 1995. He became the second-leading passer in WIU history with nearly 6,000 career passing yards. After college, he played for the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League in 1998.
He has been a college football coach since 1998. He has previously had stints as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for Arizona (2003), wide receivers coach at Ball State (2009–2010), assistant head coach and running backs coach at San Diego State, wide receivers coach at Michigan (2011–2014), quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at CSU Pueblo (2015), tight ends and special teams coach at Illinois (2016), offensive coordinator at Indiana State (2017–2018), and tight ends coach at Kansas (2019).
Player
Hecklinski played high school football in Palatine, Illinois, and was rated as the top quarterback prospect in the Midwest.{{cite news|title=Once A Much-heralded Illini Recruit, Jeff Hecklinski Finds Success At WIU: Happiness More Than Big Burrito|date=October 30, 1997|author=Gary Reinmuth |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/10/30/once-a-much-heralded-illini-recruit-jeff-hecklinski-finds-success-at-wiu/}}{{cite news|author=Taylor Bell|title=Hecklinski, Dant move toward yardage marks|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=October 4, 1991|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB373712D4BD6C9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}{{cite news|author=David Southwell|title=Hecklinski guiding Palatine|date=September 16, 1991|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3736C8E79C724&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}{{cite news|author=Len Ziehm|title=Illini can only wonder|date=October 9, 1997|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB423445F4CB036&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}("The former Palatine signal-caller – the most heavily recruited quarterback in the Midwest as a high school senior – transferred to Western Illinois after his sophomore year. Last year, when Illinois was going 2–9, he took the Leathernecks to a 9–3 record and a berth in the NCAA ...") SuperPrep magazine rated him as one of the top three prospects in the country.{{cite news|author=John Sonderegger|title=Top Quarterback Heads List of Illini Prospects|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=February 3, 1993|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04DFF49D1F0B0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}
He enrolled at the University of Illinois in 1993.{{cite news|author=Herb Gould|title=Hecklinski Patiently Awaits His Turn|date=September 1, 1994|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421D8446D03F6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}{{cite news|author=John Sonderegger|title=Illinois Receivers May End Up Catching 'Heck': Freshman QB Hecklinski Gaining Edge at QB|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=August 23, 1993|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04E3A9CE2F9B8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}} After a redshirt season in 1993, Hecklinski lost a three-way battle for the starting quarterback position in 1994.{{cite news|author=John Sonderegger|title=Hecklinski Not Certain To Redshirt|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=September 1, 1993|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04E3D1F893A81&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}} In 1995, he transferred to Western Illinois University (WIU).{{cite news|author=Herb Gould|title=Hecklinski Move No Mystery: QB Is Leaving Illini for Simple Reason: To Play|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=December 1, 1994|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421F40733527F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}{{cite news|title=Palatine's Hecklinski Decides to Leave Illini|date=November 30, 1994|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB421F3DAEC254A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}} He became the second quarterback in WIU history to pass for 5,000 yards and finished his career with nearly 6,000 passing yards.{{cite news|author=David Southwell|title=WIU: Counting on Hecklinski|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=August 28, 1995|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4223FDC0E4113&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}{{cite news|author=Bob Logan|title=WIU's Hecklinski plays different role|newspaper=Daily Herald|date=September 7, 1996|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED027928D9A4F49&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}} He also played in the Arena Football League in 1998 for the Albany Firebirds.{{cite news|author=Fred Mitchell|title=Cassell Has Faith He'll Not Only Play, But Start|date=April 24, 1998|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/04/24/cassell-has-faith-hell-not-only-play-but-start/}}{{cite news|title=New Deal: Aide rejoins Mackovic with aide reunited |date=February 10, 1993 |newspaper=Tucson Citizen |url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/tag/wildcats/page/116/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204173545/http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/tag/wildcats/page/116/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2013 }}
Coaching career
{{expand section|date=October 2022}}
Hecklinski has been a college football coach since 1998, including a stint as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Arizona Wildcats. In 2004, he joined Brady Hoke's coaching staff as the wide receivers coach at Ball State. When Hoke took the head coaching job at San Diego State in 2009, Hecklinski joined him as the Aztecs' assistant head coach, running backs coach, and recruiting coordinator.{{cite web|title=Hoke's Hires – Meet Jeff Hecklinski|publisher=Go Aztecs|date=March 5, 2009|url=http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030509aah.html|access-date=November 10, 2012|archive-date=May 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506115936/http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030509aah.html|url-status=dead}} When Hoke took the head coaching position at the University of Michigan in 2011, Hecklinski again followed and became Michigan's wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.{{cite web|title=Jeff Hecklinski Profile|publisher=University of Michigan|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hecklinski_jeff00.html}} In January 2012, he was the subject of press coverage after Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio cut off Hecklinski's presentation at the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Winners' Circle Clinic.{{cite news|author=George Sipple|title=Michigan State's Dantonio cuts off Michigan assistant|newspaper=USA Today|date=January 20, 2012|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/story/2012-01-20/michigan-state-dantonio-michigan-coaching-clinic/52700868/1}}{{cite news|author=Mark Hinton|title=Mark Dantonio owns the stage, at Michigan assistant's expense|publisher=Yahoo Sports|date=January 20, 2012|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/mark-dantonio-owns-stage-michigan-assistant-expense-182111252.html}}{{cite news|title=Michigan recruiting coordinator Jeff Hecklinski cut off by Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio during presentation|author=Kyle Meinke|publisher=Mlive.com|date=January 20, 2012|url=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigan-recruiting-coordinator-jeff-hecklinski-cut-off-by-michigan-state-coach-mark-dantonio-during/}}{{cite news|author=Jayson Bussa|title=Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio interrupts Michigan recruiting coordinator during speech to high school coaches|newspaper=Kalamazoo Gazette|date=January 20, 2012|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/01/michigan_state_coach_mark_dant_15.html}}
San Diego State University hired Hecklinski as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2020. He was fired midway through the 2022 season.{{Cite news |last=Kenney |first=Kirk |date=2022-10-02 |title=Jeff Hecklinski is out as Aztecs offensive coordinator |language=en-US |work=San Diego Union Tribune |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/story/2022-10-01/san-diego-state-aztecs-sdsu-football-offensive-coordinator-jeff-hecklinski-brady-hoke-jeff-horton |access-date=2022-10-02}}
Personal life
Hecklinski and his wife, Tiffany, have three children: a daughter, Riley, and two sons, Mikey and JR. His nephew Jeremy is slated to play QB at Wake Forest after being named MaxPreps HS 2023 Player of the Year in Georgia.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography|College football}}
- [http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hecklinski_jeff00.html Michigan Wolverines bio]
- [http://www.gosycamores.com/coaches.aspx?rc=506&path=football Indiana State Sycamores bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210453/https://kuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1620&path=football Kansas Jayhawks bio]
{{Western Illinois Leathernecks quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hecklinski, Jeff}}
Category:Albany Firebirds players
Category:Arizona Wildcats football coaches
Category:Ball State Cardinals football coaches
Category:CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves football coaches
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football coaches
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Category:Indiana State Sycamores football coaches
Category:Kansas Jayhawks football coaches
Category:Michigan Wolverines football coaches