Upper Iowa University Athletics

Rick Heller, class of 1986, was inducted into the Upper Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame in the coaching category. As an athlete, Heller was a four-year starter at shortstop in baseball and he earned three letters in football as a flanker and two in basketball for a total of nine.

Heller earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education. Upon graduation, he served as a teacher and coach at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, Missouri. In 1987, he returned to Upper Iowa University as Head Baseball Coach and Director of Residence Halls. From 1990 to 1998, Heller was also a member of the Peacock football staff coaching the wide receivers.

He spent 12 seasons directing the Peacocks to a 291-194-3 record, three Iowa Conference titles and three league tournament crowns. His team had three regional appearances and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III World Series in 1996. He was named Coach of the Year in 1989, 1993, and 1996 in the Iowa Conference. In 1996, he was named Central Region Coach of the Year and was honored by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches as the four-year college Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1996.

Heller led the Peacocks to 10 straight winning seasons, including five straight 30-win campaigns. He has coached 18 All-Region players, three IIAC Conference MVP’s and three All-Americans. For seven summers he managed and played with the Fayette Cardinal Town Baseball Team.

A native of Eldon, Iowa, Heller graduated from Cardinal High School, where he was a four-sport athlete. In 1999, Heller was hired as the Head Baseball Coach at the University of Northern Iowa and was there until 2009. He was the Head Coach at Indiana State University from 2009-13. Heller was hired as the Head Coach at the University of Iowa in 2013. Heller's family includes his wife Rachelle and three daughters, Tara (a 2001 graduate of UIU), Alyssa and Vivienne.