Page 39 - DBU Baseball 20-21 Media Guide

DAN HEEFNER–HEAD COACH
Daniel Salters, and second baseman, Drew Turbin. Salters, who was one of 20 finalists in 2015 for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the nation’s top catcher, went in the 13th round to the Cleveland Indians. It marked the second consecutive year in which Salters’ name had been called in the draft, as he was a 22nd round selection of the Washington Nationals in 2014. Turbin on the other hand, who was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2015 and ranked No. 21 in the nation in on-base percentage, went in the 14th round to the Baltimore Orioles.
In 2013, DBU saw six players selected in the draft, which was the most from any school in the state of Texas. Three former Patriots also made their Major League debuts in 2013 including Brandon Bantz (Seattle Mariners), Vic Black (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Ryan Goins (Toronto Blue Jays). All three players were
selected out of DBU in the 2009 Major League Draft.
In 2009, Vic Black became the highest draft pick in school history when he was selected in the first round with the 49th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Black would go on to make his Major League debut just four years later.
Prior to and since taking over as Head Coach, Heefner has developed DBU into one of the most powerful offensive teams in the nation as the Patriots’ hitting coach. As a result of his leadership, DBU has inserted itself into the college baseball spotlight by ranking in the top 25 nationally in 83 offensive categories dating back to 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.
DBU BASEBALL OFFENSIVE NATIONAL RANKINGS
2019
20th Doubles (124) 20th Home Runs (75) 23rd Runs (439) 2018
2nd Doubles (150)
3rd Doubles Per Game (2.38) 4th Slugging Percentage (.495) 6th Home Runs (86)
7th Home Runs Per Game (1.37) 8th Base on Balls (338)
10th Runs (467)
10th Sacrifice Flies (35)
10th Scoring (7.4)
11th Hits (648)
12th On Base Percentage (.400) 21st Batting Average (.297) 2017
3rd Home Runs (97)
3rd Home Runs Per Game (1.54) 4th Doubles (143)
4th Slugging Percentage (.517) 6th Doubles Per Game (2.27) 12th Runs (464)
18th Scoring (7.4)
20th Hits (645)
23rd On-Base Percentage (.391) 2016
2nd Sacrifice Flies (39)
21st Base on Balls (289)
22nd Home Runs (62)
25th Triples (21)
2015
10th Doubles (131)
19th Doubles Per Game (2.15) 24th Home Runs (53)
24th Runs (402)
2014
7th Base on Balls (291)
14th Home Runs (43)
17th Runs (387)
20th Home Runs Per Game (0.7) 21st Triples (21)
2013
5th Home Runs (61)
5th Home Runs Per Game (1.02) 18th Slugging Percentage (.445) 2012
5th Slugging Percentage (.476)
7th Home Runs (63) 16th Doubles (124) 18th Runs (410)
18th Scoring (6.8)
20th Batting Avg. (.304) 23rd Tripes (21)
2011
2nd Total Runs (509) 3rd Scoring (8.2)
3rd Sacrifice Flies (43) 4th Base on Balls (310) 8th Doubles (139)
9th Home Runs (60)
10th Home Runs Per Game (2.24) 12th Doubles Per Game (2.24) 15th Hit by Pitch (88)
24th Total Hits (644)
2010
12th Doubles Per Game (2.65) 13th Slugging Percentage (.541) 18th Home Runs Per Game (1.51) 2009
5th Slugging Percentage (.582) 7th Home Runs (102)
7th Home Runs Per Game (1.85)
7th Scoring Per Game (9.4)
10th Total Runs (515)
12th Batting Avg. (.343)
14th Doubles (139 or 2.53/game) 18th Total Hits (681)
2008
24th Batting Avg. (.323)
2007
9th Home Runs Per Game (1.25)
13th Scoring Per Game (7.6)
23rd Doubles Per Game (2.17)
24th Slugging Percentage Per Game (.479) 2006
4th Home Runs Per Game (1.54) 5th Slugging Percentage (.518) 6th Triples Per Game (.50)
10th Runs Scored Per Game (8.4) 15th Doubles Per Game (2.25) 2005
3rd Doubles Per Game (2.69)
7th Batting Avg. (.329)
9th Slugging Percentage (.510) 10th Triples Per Game (.45)
17th Scoring Per Game (7.9 runs)
While Heefner has led the Patriots to a great deal of success on the field, it is far from the teams’ 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 13 years, the Patriots have served in the San Gabriel Orphanage and conducted baseball clinics while on mission trips to Cuba (2019), Curacao (2015), the Dominican Republic (2011), and Guatemala (2007). The Patriots have also volunteered at the North Texas Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, at the Special Olympics of Texas Track and Field Championship and conducted numerous free baseball clinics in and around Dallas. The team has excelled in the classroom as well, posting a team GPA average of 3.20 since Heefner became Head Coach.
Prior to 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, which at the time was the second best in NCAA history.
While working with the hitters at University of Northern Iowa, his 2003 team led the Missouri Valley Conference in 10 offensive categories in conference play. His 2002 squad also had 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. He led the nation in both homeruns (22) and RBIs (102) in 2000. Prior to transferring to Olivet Nazarene University, Heefner played two years at the University of Northern Iowa.
Heefner received his bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University and his master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Heefner and his wife, Liz, reside in Cedar Hill, Texas, with their five sons: Luke (17), David (14), Zachariah (12), Titus (11) and Jacob (5). The Heefners attend Matthew Road Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas.
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