MURFREESBORO- The Chowan University athletic department has named Rick Heckler Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach.  Heckler is set to take over both programs for the 2016 season in addition to his current position of Head Women's Bowling Coach.  He enters his fifth season with Chowan athletics. 

Heckler is no stranger to the Hawks' cross country programs.  Over the course of his time at Chowan, he has spent three seasons as head coach on the men's side, and one on the women's side.  After implementing the men's program in 2012, Heckler led the Hawks to an 8th place finish in their first-ever CIAA Championship appearance.  The men's team posted an 8th place finish in 2013 and finished 10th in 2014. 

On the women's side, with Heckler at the helm of the program, the Hawks posted a 7th place finish at the CIAA Championship in 2014. 

As head coach of the bowling team, Heckler guided the team to the highest GPA among all 12 CIAA bowling teams in 2012.  Most recently, he led the 2015-16 team to the CIAA Championship for the first time, and guided the Hawks to a top-four finish in championship play.

Previously, Heckler served as the head varsity coach for women's basketball, baseball, golf, and cross country at Northampton County High School-East.  In addition to his coaching duties, Heckler was the ninth grade history teacher.
 
Prior to coaching and teaching at Northampton-East, Heckler taught ninth grade world history, and coached varsity softball, and women's basketball and tennis at Hertford County High School.
 
Heckler also has administrative experience after serving as the athletic director at Warren Area High School in Warren, PA from 2002-2004 in addition to coaching softball and women's basketball.

 
Heckler received a B.S. degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He resides in Murfreesboro, N.C. with his wife, Lauri.