Mike Heffernan is in his second season as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Saint Anselm in 2017 after being named to the positions in June of 2016.
In 2016, Heffernan helped orchestrate an offense that led the Northeast-10 Conference in passing yards per game (243.7) and ranked third in time of possession (32.26), fourth in third-down conversions (41%) and fifth in points per game (22.9). Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Hill was a Second Team All-NE10 choice after leading the NE10 in receiving yards (1,091) and receiving yards per game (99.2), while quarterback Yianni Gavalas finished his career as the program's all-time leader in nearly every major passing category.
Heffernan joins Saint Anselm after spending the last three seasons at Elmhurst College, serving as the team's offensive coordinator this past season and previously worked as the run-game coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 2014. The Bluejays averaged 158.5 rushing yards per game in 2015 and had four members of its offense named to the All-CCIW Conference Teams.
Previously, Heffernan spent time at the College of Saint Scholastica as the team's assistant head coach, offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and strength and conditioning coach. In his time at Saint Scholastica, the team won conference championships and advanced to the NCAA Playoffs during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The Saints put together an undefeated regular season in 2011 in just their fourth year as a program.
Heffernan also coached the offensive line at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2008 and helped the Pointers win the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship. Prior to UWSP, he also served as a graduate assistant coach at Northern State University.
Heffernan was an all-conference and all-area offensive lineman at Lake Zurich High School in Lake Zurich, Ill. He went on to play for two years at Illinois State University and three years at Elmhurst, where he was an All-Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) pick on the defensive line in 2006. Heffernan graduated with a degree in kinesiology from Elmhurst in 2007.
After completing his playing career at Elmhurst, Heffernan began his coaching career by serving as a student assistant coach at Elmhurst during the 2007 season.
He is an active member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) since 2007.
Heffernan lives in Bedford with his wife, Johanna, and their son, Thor (5).
