Heckroth, a former hurdler (400-meters) at Northern Iowa, makes the trip to Pembroke after serving the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Valparaiso. In addition to his coaching duties, he will also serve as a lecturer in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department at UNCP.
"I am very excited to add Patrick to my coaching staff," Ormsby said. "His experience as both a student-athlete, as well as a coach at some of the highest levels of our sport, will be invaluable as this program consistently competes for conference and national championships. I think our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his tutelage."
Heckroth spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Valparaiso where he headed up the recruiting efforts for the Crusaders, while also serving as the sprints and hurdles coach. During his stint in northern Indiana, he mentored one student-athlete (Nicole Zehel) to the Horizon League title in the steeplechase, while his sprinters and hurdlers also shattered four school records and establish 26 top-5 marks in program annals. In his first season with the Crusaders, his group posted more than 120 personal bests as well.
Prior to his stop in the Midwest, Heckroth served as a volunteer assistant coach at California State-Fresno (formerly Fresno State) where he helped develop three USA Junior National Qualifiers in the 400 hurdles, two Mountain West Conference champions and numerous all-conference selections.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, he also spent time as the sprints and hurdles coach at Waverly-Shell Rock High School in Waverly, Iowa. Under his direction, the Hawks established multiple state records, while also grabbing a handful of state and Drake Relays titles.
Heckroth holds a USATF Level 3 and IAAF Level 5 Elite certification in sprints and hurdles. He earned his bachelor's degree in movement and exercise science from Northern Iowa in 2011, and has also earned a pair of postgraduate degrees as well. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology and sports psychology from CSU Fresno in 2013, and was presented with his master's degree in sports administration from Valparaiso in 2015.
