Trinity Valley Community College has turned to a 24-year coaching veteran with an NJCAA championship to lead its men's basketball program.
Greg Heiar, who this past season was the head men's basketball coach at Mineral Area College, was today named the successor to Martin Levinson, who resigned recently to accept the head coaching position at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Heir will be the 13th head coach in the history of Cardinal basketball.
He led Mineral Area to a 29-3 record and berth in the regional championship game.
"We are excited to have Greg lead the next chapter of Cardinal basketball," said TVCC athletic director Eddie Kite. "He is a proven winner and understands our high standards and what it takes to achieve them."
Heiar is owner of a 234-38 career head coaching record, representing an .860 winning percentage. His 2022 Northwestern Florida State squad went 31-5 and claimed the NJCAA D1 championship in his one season at the helm of the program. He was named NJCAA Coach of the Year.
Prior to that season, he spent five years as head coach at Chipola College and compiled a 165-15 record. His 2009 team finished third at the NJCAA D1 tournament. Heiar won five Panhandle Conference titles and was a five-time Coach of the Year honoree.
In addition to his stint at Mineral Area and his two stops in Florida, Heiar served as head coach at New Mexico State University for one season.
Heiar also served tenures as an assistant coach at Mount St. Clare, Loras College, Chipola, Southern Mississippi, Wichita State University, LSU and East Tennessee State University. At Wichita State, Heiar was a part of seven NCAA tournament squads, including the Shockers' Final Four appearance in 2013.
In his playing career, he was at Kirkwood Community College for two years and played his final two years at Mount St. Clare. There, he was a two-year captain, two-time all-conference selection and team Most Valuable Player.
THE HEIAR FILE
Name
Greg Heiar (pronounced Hire)
Age
48
Wife
Jessica
Children
Alexis
Playing Career
Kirkwood Community College (1996-98)
Mount St. Clare (1998-2000)
Coaching Career
Mount St. Clare (assistant coach, 2000-01)
Loras (assistant coach, 2001-03)
Chipola (assistant coach, 2003-04)
Chipola (head coach, 2004-09)
Southern Mississippi (assistant coach, 2009-11)
Wichita State (assistant coach, 2011-17)
LSU (assistant coach, 2017-20)
East Tennessee State (assistant coach, 2020-21)
Northwestern Florida State (head coach, 2021-22)
New Mexico State (head coach, 2022-23)
Mineral Area (head coach, 2023-24)
