Glen Heffernan joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2021 as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. The 2025-26 season will mark Heffernan’s fifth year as assistant coach.
At St. Francis, Heffernan assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, assisting in training sessions, and implementation of game strategies.
Prior to joining the Fighting Saints staff, Heffernan spent the 2020-21 season as the head men’s basketball coach at NJCAA Morton College (Ill.). While at Morton, Heffernan lead the Panthers to a 9-14 overall record.
From 2018-20, Heffernan served two seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Western Michigan University. During the 2017-18 season, Heffernan worked with the NCAA Division I University of Texas at El Paso men's basketball program. Prior to UTEP, Heffernan spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Cardinal Stritch University (2015-17).
Prior to Cardinal Stritch, Heffernan spent two seasons (2013-15) as head coach of the Midwest Elite Prep School in Merrillville, Ind. While at MEPS, he had an overall record of 54-18 with several victories over nationally ranked schools including Fishbone Prep who was ranked No. 1 in the nation. From 2011-13, Heffernan was the head coach at Lalumiere Prep School in LaPorte, Ind., posting an overall record of 62-8. Under the guidance of Heffernan, Lalumiere Prep finished No. 8 and No. 6 in the nation and advanced to play in the ESPN Rise High School Championships both years.
Heffernan began his coaching career in 1990 as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I Ball State University (Ind.) where he helped the Cardinals reach the Sweet 16. In 1992, he accepted an assistant coaching position at NCAA Division I Loyola University (Ill.), where he oversaw recruiting responsibilities for three seasons. In 1996, he became the head coach at NJCAA Columbia College (Calif.). During that season, Heffernan led the Claim Jumpers to a 23-10 overall record.
After leaving Columbia College in 1997, Heffernan served for four seasons (1997-2001) at NCAA Division I University of Illinois Chicago as an assistant coach. In 2001, he accepted the position of head coach at Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, Ill. for three years – leading the Olympians to an overall record of 52-23 - and then served on season (2004-05) in the same role at Los Angeles Valley College, where he produced a 14-14 overall record. In 2006, he moved back to Illinois as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Aurora University (Ill.) from 2006-2010 while concurrently spending two seasons as the head coach at Harlan High School (2006-08) and three seasons as the head coach at Mather High School (2008-2011). At Harlan, Heffernan posted a 43-12, and at Mather, he won 67 games to 20 losses and claimed back-to-back conference titles. Heffernan also helped Mather advance to the City of Chicago Finals and the State of Illinois Sectional Championship.
In 2010, Heffernan was named the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. As a head coach, Heffernan holds an overall coaching record of 324-119, which includes a 46-38 collegiate mark.
Heffernan earned an Associate’s of Arts Degree in Physical Education and Health from Harper Community College (Ill.) in 1985 before graduating from Northeastern Illinois University in 1990 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Physical Education and Health. Heffernan holds three master’s degrees. He completed his first in 1994, earning a Master’s of Science in Physical Education degree from Ball State University (Ind.). In 2007, he secured his Master’s of Education: Special Education-Cross Categorical degree from Governors State University (Ill.). And in 2014, he received his Master of Arts: School Guidance Counseling degree from Concordia University (Ill.).
