Basketball (M)

Greg Heiar took over the Cardinal basketball program in April of 2024. In less than a year, he had it on top of the NJCAA MBB D1 world.

In his first season, Heiar led the Cardinals to a 34-3  record and their first NJCAA championship. The 34 wins also set a program record for most wins in a season. The Cardinals won the Region XIV Conference championship with a sparkling 20-2 record.

Going into the 2025-26 season, the 13^th head coach in Cardinal history owns an overall 268-41 record and two NJCAA titles. Heiar also guided Northwestern Florida State to a championship in 2022. His NJCAA head coaching record is 258-26, which represents a 91.5 winning percentage.

He was named the 2025 NJCAA MBB D1 Coach of the Year. Heiar also received the award in 2022.

Prior to assuming the reins of the Cardinal program, Heiar led Mineral Area to a 29-3 record and berth in the regional championship game in 2024.

“What we saw Greg do in his first season was remarkable, but not a surprise,” said TVCC Associate Vice President of Athletics Eddie Kite. “He is a proven winner and understands our high standards and what it takes to achieve them.”

Prior to the 2022 season at Northwestern Florida State, 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. Chipola finished as the NJCAA runnerup in 2007. 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

49

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)