Head Coach

Tom Heil

Building Character and Family Leads to Championships

When Tom Heil came back to Baldwin Wallace University nine years ago, he returned with two thoughts in-mind; one, building a team based on character and family; and two, that BW and its tradition, support and location was a winning combination.

"I said when I interviewed for the head coaching job that this was a great place to grow a family, build a team based on love and character and win championships," said Heil, who's team won the 2019 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament.  "We are very excited to represent the OAC in the 2019 NCAA Division III National Tournament.

In Heil's First Three Seasons Back in Berea

In his first three seasons back in Berea, Heil, who was the head assistant under former Yellow Jacket Head Coach Duane Sheldon '94 for five seasons (2010-2015), and his staff have compiled a 70-42 record, and they have led the Yellow Jackets to two OAC Championship games (2017 and 2019) and one semifinal (2018).

In eight seasons as a college head coach, Heil has seven winning seasons, a 135-90 career record, three conference championship game appearances with one regular season league title, two tournament titles and a pair of berths in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

An OAC Tournament Title and an NCAA Tourney Berth in 2018-2019

This season, Heil's team was 21-9 and made it into the "Big Dance". His team was led by seniors, Jay Battle and Kyle Nader. His team also was battled-tested. It won three straight road games in the 2019 OAC Tournament. In its last two victories, BW knocked off two of the three OAC tri-champs during the regular season. In his three seasons back in Berea, Heil has continued built momentum in his program, both internally and externally. This season, Battle and Nader each earned All-OAC honors and four other student-athletes earned Academic All-OAC accolades.

Tom Heil Has Been Successful as a Player, Assistant Coach and Head Coach

In 2017-2018, a Heil-led BW team finished 18-9 overall. The season was highlighted by wins against No.6-ranked Marietta College, No.10-ranked Wisconsin-River Falls and OAC/cross-town rival No.20-ranked John Carroll. Three of his players receieved All-OAC honors and five were named Academic All-Conference (career bests). 

In his second sesason, Heil's team finished 15-13 overall and advanced to the OAC Championship Game. His squad also won the season-opening St. Mary's (Md.) Dan Greene Memorial Tournament and scored 121 points in a win versus Pitt-Greensburg (Pa.). He had two players earn All-OAC honors and two earn Academic All-OAC acclaim.

In his first season at BW, Heil led his squad to a 16-11 record that included winning the Medaille (N.Y.) College Invitational Tournament and a thrilling, last second victory at OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University when the Blue Streaks were ranked No.4 in Division III. He also mentored two All-OAC players and four of his student-athletes earned Academic All-OAC accolades.

Heil returned to BW in the spring of 2015 after serving as the head coach at Defiance College for one season. He led the Yellow Jackets to a 22-7 record, including a 15-0 mark at home. Defiance captured both the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season and HCAC Tournament titles. Heil guided his team into the NCAA Division III National Tournament where it posted the school's first-ever NCAA Division III National Tournament victory by knocking off the defending national champions.