After several seasons in an administrative role at Indiana University, Randy Heisler left to take the cross country and track and field coaching position at Ball State University. Heisler and his team debut today in the Ball State Open.
"We're going to have to hit the ground running with the season being so close, but we're not going to put too much pressure on the [athletes] yet," Heisler said. "I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to coach and recruit heavily again."
Heisler resigned from Indiana as the director of track and field and accepted the cross country and track and field coaching position at Ball State.
"I'm enjoying it because I've done more coaching in the past four days than I had in the past few months at IU," Heisler said.
Heisler spent 22 years with the Indiana University track and field team. He was responsible for four NCAA top-ten team finishes as well as five NCAA individual champions, 76 individual Big Ten Conference champions and 63 NCAA All-Americans. Indiana also won three Big Ten Conference titles with Heisler at the reins.
Heisler's efforts did not go unnoticed either. He was named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year three times and NCAA Regional Coach of the Year four times.
Cardinal athletes have met the new head coach with different feelings.
"When I heard they had hired a new coach I felt relieved," junior Voni Ferguson said. "He hasn't really changed anything either; we are on the same script, and so far it has been really easy going."
Others are still not as sure and are holding out to see what happens.
"When I heard [about the hiring] I was really hesitant," junior Christina Whitt said. "I was just worried about new philosophies and new ways of doing things."
With little time to get adjusted, the Cardinals and Heisler have the first meet of the indoor season Friday. The Ball State Open will not be a scored meet but will be used to gain experience for newer runners.
Heisler said the meet comes with little time for preparation and most of the squad members will be competing in irregular events.
"Right now we just don't want to put a lot of pressure on the kids because we have a scored meet next weekend in Bowling Green [State University]," Heisler said. "Most of them will be running in off-events just to get a feel for competition again."
With intentions of future success, optimism for a healthy season and comprehension of all the changes that have taken place in the Ball State track and field program in the past year, the new coach spoke of his satisfaction of being in Muncie.
"The [members of the track and field team] have had quite a time with all that has happened in the past year," Heisler said. "It's been a long time since I was in a position like this to coach and recruit and that's what I love to do and I'm looking forward to it."
Indiana University associate athletic director Janet voiced high praise of Heisler and wished him the best of luck.
"I only had the opportunity to work with Randy for one year but I enjoyed him tremendously," Kittell said. "I see this as a great move for Randy and for Ball State."
Kittell also stated the importance of Heisler's family to him and how that had an affect on his career decision.
"He told me some time last year that because of traveling, coaching, and administrative duties, he had not spent a Saturday at home between January and July in 22 years," Kittell said.
Heisler has three children, Cameron, Kiley and Lindsey, with wife Tammy.
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