January
25, 2008
(release courtesy of Jon Denham, Loras College sports information
director)
DUBUQUE,
IOWA . . . Loras College President Jim Collins
and Interim Director of Athletics Jane Specht
announced Friday that the interim tag has been removed from
head women’s basketball coach Justin Heinzen.
The Manitowoc, Wisconsin native, who came to Loras College in
the summer of 2007 as the assistant coach, was named the interim
head coach on September 13, 2007.
In the first ten games to start the season, Heinzen led the
Duhawks to a perfect 10-0 record. The Duhawks won the season-opening
Damon’s Rockford College Tip-Off Tournament and went on
to win eight of nine non-conference games. The ten game winning
streak was the longest in program history and also the best
start to any season in the women’s basketball program.
Today the Duhawks sit at 4-4 in Iowa Conference play (4th place)
and are 12-5 overall.
Jane Specht shared some thoughts on the decision to make Heinzen
the long-term face on the sidelines.
“Justin has shown us that he is the type of person and
coach that our student-athletes can learn from and grow as basketball
players under. The Duhawk community will certainly benefit from
his presence with the women’s basketball team.”
President Collins added, “in the face of adversity and
unexpected circumstances, Coach Heinzen has conducted himself
in a mission consonant way. He has demonstrated the very best
when it comes to faith, academic focus, knowledge of the game,
work ethic, and professional demeanor.”
Regarding his first 135 days as the head coach, Heinzen was
both optimistic and grateful.
“The cornerstones of this program are still the same…enthusiasm
and hard work, and the goals are not taking second or third
in the conference; we are all here to go where we haven’t
gone and I feel truly blessed that Loras allowed me the opportunity
to build upon what those before me have done. I thank President
Collins and Jane Specht for their continued support, something
that has honestly been more amazing than the transition itself.
It is a privilege to be a Duhawk.”
Loras returns to action on Saturday, January 26th, when they
host league leaders Simpson College at 2:00 PM in the Athletics
& Wellness Center.
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