| Bob Heffner |
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 | Hometown:
Morrisville, Pa.
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| Last College:
Temple
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| Position:
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends/Offense
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| Birthdate:
08/02/1957
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| Year at Maryland:
4th
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Bob Heffner, whose father, Fred, played for the Terps' national championship team in 1953, is in his fourth season on Maryland's coaching staff and his second as offensive coordinator. He also is responsible for the tight ends and offensive tackles.
Last year, in his first season directing the Terrapins' offensive unit, Maryland posted the 10th-highest scoring average in school history and best in the last seven seasons. Maryland ranked first in the 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 '99, allowing an ACC-low 11 sacks in 251 throwing situations. Also, quarterback Calvin McCall finished second nationally among I-A freshmen quarterbacks in total offense and passing efficiency. All told, Maryland jumped 38 spots in NCAA rushing offense rankings and 51 spots in NCAA total offense rankings.
Heffner, who brought 17 years of coaching experience with him to College Park, joined the Maryland staff after serving as offensive line coach at Northern Illinois in 1996. Heffner coached at Lafayette College 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. During his time at the Easton, Pa., school, Lafayette claimed Patriot League championships in 1988 and '94.
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 '91.
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, Heffner earned three letters as an offensive guard and played on Owl teams that made Mirage Bowl appearances in '77 and '78. 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.
Heffner, 44, and his wife, Nancy, have three daughters, Katie, Molly and Shelby.
Coaching History
Maryland
Offensive Coordinator 1999
Tight Ends
Offensive Tackles 1997-
Northern Illinois
Offensive Line 1996
Lafayette College
Offensive Coordinator
Offensive Line 1993-95
Tampa Bay Storm
Director of Player Personnel
Offensive Coordinator 1993
British Columbia Lions
Offensive Coordinator
Offensive Line
Running Backs 1990-92
Lafayette College
Offensive Line 1988-89
Illinois State
Offensive Line
Interior Defensive Line 1981-87
Temple
Graduate Assistant 1979
Bowl History
1979 Garden State Bowl
1978 Mirage Bowl
1977 Mirage Bowl
