Football: Tight ends coach Bob Heffner retires after 13 years at Northwestern
Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman
Ryan Field, the home of Northwestern football. David Braun, who was previously named NU’s defensive coordinator, has been tapped as the football team’s interim head coach.
November 29, 2021
Football
After 13 seasons at Northwestern, Bob Heffner is moving on.
The Wildcats announced their tight ends coach’s retirement on Monday afternoon. Special teams coordinator Jeff Genyk will serve as NU’s tight ends coach in addition to his current role.
“Coach Heffner had a profound impact on myself, our program and the game of football in over 40 years of coaching,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a news release. “Countless student-athletes, coaches and staff members have benefited from his steadfast dedication, compassion and mentorship as both a coach and a person.”
Heffner, who recently concluded his 43rd year coaching college football, joined Fitzgerald’s staff in 2009 after serving as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. He coached five players to All-Big Ten recognition, including Drake Dunsmore, who finished his career with the most catches (143) and receiving yards (1,567) by an NU tight end.
Ten years later, Heffner’s role shifted as offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian changed superbacks — a position that had players function as both a tight end and fullback — to tight ends. His coaching success continued as John Raine earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after reeling in 24 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns in 2020.
This season, sophomore tight end Marshall Lang led the Cats with three receiving touchdowns.
Heffner’s departure returns Genyk to a familiar role. He coached tight ends and special teams from 2011-14 at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin.
“Coach Genyk has a wealth of experience leading the tight ends group at the Power Five level, including in the Big Ten Conference,” Fitzgerald said. “He has a great grasp of our program’s operation and offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian and I are looking forward to him stepping into this role and building on the foundation set by Coach Heffner.”
NU also announced a nationwide search for a cornerbacks coach. Matt MacPherson currently leads defensive backs, a group that encompasses cornerbacks and safeties.
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