Page 45 - DBU Baseball 25 Media Guide

DAN HEEFNER–HEAD COACH
29 TOP 10 ROUND PICKS IN MLB DRAFT UNDER HEEFNER
1st: Victor Black (2009 - Pittsburgh Pirates)
2nd: Ryan Johnson (2024 - Los Angeles Angels) 2nd: Burl Carraway (2021 - Chicago Cubs)
2nd: Jimmy Glowenke (2021 - San Francisco Giants) 2nd: Jameson Hannah (2018 - Oakland Athletics) 2nd: Jake Johansen (2013 - Washington Nationals) 3rd: Jaron DeBerry (2024 - Milwaukee Brewers) 3rd: Dominic Hamel (2021 - New York Mets)
3rd: Drew Smith (2015 - Detroit Tigers)
3rd: Cy Sneed (2014 - Milwaukee Brewers)
4th: Seth Elledge (2017 - Seattle Mariners) 4th: Brandon Koch (2015 - Tampa Bay Rays) 4th: Ryan Goins (2009 - Toronto Blue Jays) 5th: Jackson Glenn (2021 - Pittsburgh Pirates) 5th: Chance Adams (2015 - New York Yankees) 6th: MD Johnson (2019 - Miami Marlins)
6th: Devlin Granberg (2018 - Boston Red Sox) 6th: David Martinelli (2016 - Philadelphia Phillies) 7th: Dalton Higgins (2017 - New York Yankees) 8th: Braxton Bragg (2023 - Baltimore Orioles)
8th: Cory Taylor (2015 - San Francisco Giants) 8th: Jason Krizan (2011 - San Francisco Giants) 9th: Kyle Amendt (2023 - Arizona Diamonbacks) 9th: Matt Duce (2018 - St. Louis Cardinals)
9th: Camden Duzenack (2017 - Arizona Diamondbacks)
10th: Zane Russell (2023 - Arizona Diamondbacks) 10th: Paul Voelker (2014 - Detroit Tigers)
10th: Joel Hutter (2012 - Baltimore Orioles)
10th: Evan Bigley (2008 - Minnesota Twins)
Under Heefner’s direction, the Patriots’ skipper has developed DBU into one which at the time was the second-best in NCAA history.
of the most potent offensive teams in the nation. As a result of his leadership, DBU has inserted itself into the college baseball spotlight by ranking in the top 25 nationally in 110 offensive categories since 2005. Widely regarded as one of the top hitting coaches in the country, Heefner has presented twice at the American Baseball Coaches Association national convention on hitting and has also presented in Europe, Canada, and numerous state conventions on hitting and building team culture.
While Heefner has led the Patriots to great success on the field, it is far from the team’s sole focus; the Patriot Discipleship program is designed with opportunities to challenge players at all levels of spiritual maturity. The Patriot Baseball Team has also embraced DBU’s mission of developing servant leaders by participating in numerous service activities in the community and even internationally.
Over the past 17 years, the Patriots have served in the San Gabriel Orphanage and conducted baseball clinics while on mission trips to the Dominican Republic (2023 & 2011), Cuba (2019), Curacao (2015), and Guatemala (2007). The Patriots have also volunteered at the North Texas Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics of Texas Track and Field Championship, and conducted numerous free baseball clinics in and around Dallas. The team has also excelled in the classroom, posting a team GPA average of 3.21 since Heefner became head coach.
Before coming to DBU, Heefner was an assistant coach at Creighton University and the University of Northern Iowa. While at Creighton, he was the hitting and catching coach. Under his guidance in 2004, the Bluejay hitters saw an improvement in nearly every statistical category from the 2003 season, including a 24-point increase in batting average. Defensively, the Bluejay catchers contributed to Creighton’s nation-leading .982 fielding percentage,
While working with the University of Northern Iowa hitters, his 2003 team led the Missouri Valley Conference in 10 offensive categories in conference play. His 2002 squad also posted the highest batting average of any team in conference play.
As a player, Heefner was named an All-American in his junior and senior seasons at Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA school in Kankakee, Illinois. In 2000, he led the nation in both home runs (22) and RBIs (102). Before transferring to Olivet Nazarene University, Heefner played for two years at the University of Northern Iowa.
Heefner received his bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University and his master’s from the University of Northern Iowa. Heefner and his wife, Liz, reside in Cedar Hill, Texas, with their five sons: Luke (22), David (19), Zachariah (18), Titus (16) and Jacob (10). The Heefners attend Midlothian Bible Church.
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