Tim Heffron
Photo by: Rachel Von Art
Feature Story: Heffron Proves Perfect fit for Mastodon Athletics, Hall of Fame
2/19/2024 2:18:00 PM | Hall of Fame
Tim Heffron admits to having a competitive streak that isn't just borderline unhealthy, it IS unhealthy.
"If I am in a game of some type," Heffron said, "I am going to win, and do whatever it takes to win."
Heffron has carried that drive since he was a men's volleyball student-athlete at Purdue Fort Wayne, and it was certainly evident as he coached the Mastodon women's volleyball program to 157 victories and three Great Lakes Valley Conference championships through six seasons.
"Every day," Heffron said of his days as a player under the legendary Arnie Ball, "every practice, we would go at it, and I'm still that way today when I play pickleball."
Heffron transitioned to solely serving Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics as an administrator 25 years ago, and his latest stop on his Mastodon journey earlier this month was as an inductee into the Mastodon Hall of Fame.
"It is almost surreal," Heffron said of the honor, "because I have seen the careers of so many of those people that are in (the Hall of Fame). To be associated with them is really an honor and humbling."
Heffron joined fellow inductees: Felipe Ralat (men's volleyball, 1992-95), Shannon Lynn (women's soccer, 2004-06), Rebekah Roehm (women's volleyball, 2006-09), Max Touloute (men's soccer, 2008-11), and Frank Gaines (men's basketball, 2008-13) in being recognized.
The competitive mindset of Heffron has made him a great fit for Purdue Fort Wayne – in every role that he is served – because those who take pride in being a Mastodon must not just strive for success, but understand that it can often be without the tailwinds that others possess.
"Every time that I look at (Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics)," Heffron said, "I think about how far that we have come, how much we have done, with so little.
"To me, along with being the ultimate competitor, being here is like actually wearing a chip on your shoulder as a badge of honor."
Heffron, who first came to Fort Wayne on a recruiting trip for his brother, Andy (a Mastodon men's volleyball player from 1987-90, just like Tim), finds himself pausing, at times, when he contemplates how far Mastodon Athletics have come.
"When I walked onto this campus," Heffron recalled, "we didn't even have a full-time athletic director."
Fast-forward to today, and rest assured, Mastodon Athletic Director Kelley Hartley Hutton is a full-time employee, Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics is achieving unfathomable success after Heffron played a role in helping the institution transition to the highest level of intercollegiate sports.
"I want to be the underdog," Heffron said. "I'm used to being the underdog. Everything about us has been about being an underdog, and then we succeed."
On Monday, the Purdue Fort Wayne men's golf team opens its 2024 spring season as the defending Horizon League champions. On Saturday, Mastodon student-athlete Kai Auernheimer will seek to defend his 2023 Horizon League title at the conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in the heptathlon. And on the basketball court, the Mastodon men recently clinched their ninth winning season in the past 11 years while the Purdue Fort Wayne women have a legitimate shot at setting a new program mark for victories at the NCAA Division I level.
"I'm so proud," Heffron continued, "with how much we can do with so little. It is stunning to me that we are so successful."
The reasons for that success, according to Heffron, are twofold.
First, Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics is "student-centered," in Heffron's view after nearly 40 years on campus, and the university has hired people with the proper philosophy to create a positive experience of the student-athletes.
"We are student-centered," Heffron said. "Everything we do is about the student. I am so proud of this institution, and the Athletic Department is the same way."
When Heffron decided to step down as women's volleyball coach following the 1998 season, his roles had grown from not just coaching, but also serving as the athletic department business manager, handling operations, and overseeing financial aid for the student-athletes.
Today, his past roles are handled by a combined five full-time employees.
"It's night and day," Heffron laughed at how different the world of collegiate athletics is today.
Heffron retired from Purdue Fort Wayne in 2019 when he was overseeing operations and business at the time. Having a second stent surgically inserted played a critical role in that decision.
"My doctor told me that I should really reduce the stress in my life," Heffron said.
Like Hartley Hutton, Heffron's expertise is in the sport of volleyball. However, she has utilized Heffron in recent years as a relief pitcher and called him to serve Mastodon Athletics in temporary roles, as needed.
Since October of last year, Heffron has been handling operations, which is expected to come to an end at some point this spring.
"I kind of hang out and come back when they need me to," Heffron said. "I know everyone across campus. I know the procedures. I know the people."
A competitor. A leader. And a servant. Each of those traits make Heffron the perfect Mastodon.
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"If I am in a game of some type," Heffron said, "I am going to win, and do whatever it takes to win."
Heffron has carried that drive since he was a men's volleyball student-athlete at Purdue Fort Wayne, and it was certainly evident as he coached the Mastodon women's volleyball program to 157 victories and three Great Lakes Valley Conference championships through six seasons.
"Every day," Heffron said of his days as a player under the legendary Arnie Ball, "every practice, we would go at it, and I'm still that way today when I play pickleball."
Heffron transitioned to solely serving Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics as an administrator 25 years ago, and his latest stop on his Mastodon journey earlier this month was as an inductee into the Mastodon Hall of Fame.
"It is almost surreal," Heffron said of the honor, "because I have seen the careers of so many of those people that are in (the Hall of Fame). To be associated with them is really an honor and humbling."
Heffron joined fellow inductees: Felipe Ralat (men's volleyball, 1992-95), Shannon Lynn (women's soccer, 2004-06), Rebekah Roehm (women's volleyball, 2006-09), Max Touloute (men's soccer, 2008-11), and Frank Gaines (men's basketball, 2008-13) in being recognized.
The competitive mindset of Heffron has made him a great fit for Purdue Fort Wayne – in every role that he is served – because those who take pride in being a Mastodon must not just strive for success, but understand that it can often be without the tailwinds that others possess.
"Every time that I look at (Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics)," Heffron said, "I think about how far that we have come, how much we have done, with so little.
"To me, along with being the ultimate competitor, being here is like actually wearing a chip on your shoulder as a badge of honor."
Heffron, who first came to Fort Wayne on a recruiting trip for his brother, Andy (a Mastodon men's volleyball player from 1987-90, just like Tim), finds himself pausing, at times, when he contemplates how far Mastodon Athletics have come.
"When I walked onto this campus," Heffron recalled, "we didn't even have a full-time athletic director."
Fast-forward to today, and rest assured, Mastodon Athletic Director Kelley Hartley Hutton is a full-time employee, Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics is achieving unfathomable success after Heffron played a role in helping the institution transition to the highest level of intercollegiate sports.
"I want to be the underdog," Heffron said. "I'm used to being the underdog. Everything about us has been about being an underdog, and then we succeed."
On Monday, the Purdue Fort Wayne men's golf team opens its 2024 spring season as the defending Horizon League champions. On Saturday, Mastodon student-athlete Kai Auernheimer will seek to defend his 2023 Horizon League title at the conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in the heptathlon. And on the basketball court, the Mastodon men recently clinched their ninth winning season in the past 11 years while the Purdue Fort Wayne women have a legitimate shot at setting a new program mark for victories at the NCAA Division I level.
"I'm so proud," Heffron continued, "with how much we can do with so little. It is stunning to me that we are so successful."
The reasons for that success, according to Heffron, are twofold.
First, Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics is "student-centered," in Heffron's view after nearly 40 years on campus, and the university has hired people with the proper philosophy to create a positive experience of the student-athletes.
"We are student-centered," Heffron said. "Everything we do is about the student. I am so proud of this institution, and the Athletic Department is the same way."
When Heffron decided to step down as women's volleyball coach following the 1998 season, his roles had grown from not just coaching, but also serving as the athletic department business manager, handling operations, and overseeing financial aid for the student-athletes.
Today, his past roles are handled by a combined five full-time employees.
"It's night and day," Heffron laughed at how different the world of collegiate athletics is today.
Heffron retired from Purdue Fort Wayne in 2019 when he was overseeing operations and business at the time. Having a second stent surgically inserted played a critical role in that decision.
"My doctor told me that I should really reduce the stress in my life," Heffron said.
Like Hartley Hutton, Heffron's expertise is in the sport of volleyball. However, she has utilized Heffron in recent years as a relief pitcher and called him to serve Mastodon Athletics in temporary roles, as needed.
Since October of last year, Heffron has been handling operations, which is expected to come to an end at some point this spring.
"I kind of hang out and come back when they need me to," Heffron said. "I know everyone across campus. I know the procedures. I know the people."
A competitor. A leader. And a servant. Each of those traits make Heffron the perfect Mastodon.
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