Illinois Head Coach Jim Heffernan Announces Retirement
Illinois Head Coach Jim Heffernan Announces Retirement
After 29 years in Champaign, Illinois Head Coach Jim Heffernan announces his retirement.
Apr 8, 2021 by Kyle Bratke
Press release from Illinois Athletics.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jim Heffernan, who helped lead the University of Illinois wrestling program to 13 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, announced his retirement today after 12 years as head coach and 29 years overall with the Illini wrestling program.
Considered one of the most prominent collegiate wrestling coaches in the nation, Heffernan coached 73 All-Americans, 215 NCAA qualifiers, 11 individual NCAA champions and 20 Big Ten Conference champions during his time at Illinois. He helped lead the Illini to Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships 13 times, and during his coaching career in Champaign, the Illini have had at least one All-American on the roster in 28-consecutive seasons.