Ball State University Athletics
Joey Hecklinski Named Ball State Football’s Quarterbacks Coach
February 05, 2020 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State football head coach Mike Neu announced today that Joey Hecklinski has been promoted to quarterbacks coach.
Hecklinski is in his second year on the Ball State football coaching staff. He spent the fall season serving as an offensive graduate assistant, specifically assisting with the wide receivers. Two Cardinals came away with all-league honors at that position – Justin Hall (first team) and Riley Miller (second team).
One of the top quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference will be under the tutelage of Hecklinski this fall. Drew Plitt, a senior in 2020, directed an offense that led the MAC in scoring (34.8 points per game) and total offense (463.0 yards per game) last fall. Plitt threw a league-high 24 touchdowns during his junior year and ranked second in passing yards per game (243.2).
Hecklinski made stops at three other schools before coming to Ball State. He began his coaching career at Manchester University in 2014 as the wide receivers/quarterbacks coach. The ensuing two years, Hecklinski returned to his alma mater, Marian University, to serve as the running backs coach. He helped the Knights capture the 2015 NAIA national championship.
In 2017 and 2018, Hecklinski worked as the running backs coach and assistant video coordinator at Butler.
He is the third Hecklinski to come through Ball State as a coach. Ron Hecklinski, Joey's uncle, was an assistant men's basketball coach back in the early 1990s and was a part of the 1990 Ball State team that made a magical run to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Jeff Hecklinski, Joey's cousin, was the wide receivers coach for the Cardinals from 2004-08 under Brady Hoke. He recently reunited with Hoke at San Diego State as the offensive coordinator.
Hecklinski earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Marian in 2014. He was Marian's starting quarterback and team captain as a senior in 2013. He was also a part of the 2012 Marian team that won the NAIA national title.
Ball State concluded the 2019 season 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the MAC. The Cardinals won the Bronze Stalk Trophy from Northern Illinois for the first time since 2008 and capped the year by knocking off league champion Miami for the Red Bird Rivalry Trophy, 41-27.
Ball State opens the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 with a home game against Maine.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Hecklinski is in his second year on the Ball State football coaching staff. He spent the fall season serving as an offensive graduate assistant, specifically assisting with the wide receivers. Two Cardinals came away with all-league honors at that position – Justin Hall (first team) and Riley Miller (second team).
One of the top quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference will be under the tutelage of Hecklinski this fall. Drew Plitt, a senior in 2020, directed an offense that led the MAC in scoring (34.8 points per game) and total offense (463.0 yards per game) last fall. Plitt threw a league-high 24 touchdowns during his junior year and ranked second in passing yards per game (243.2).
Hecklinski made stops at three other schools before coming to Ball State. He began his coaching career at Manchester University in 2014 as the wide receivers/quarterbacks coach. The ensuing two years, Hecklinski returned to his alma mater, Marian University, to serve as the running backs coach. He helped the Knights capture the 2015 NAIA national championship.
In 2017 and 2018, Hecklinski worked as the running backs coach and assistant video coordinator at Butler.
He is the third Hecklinski to come through Ball State as a coach. Ron Hecklinski, Joey's uncle, was an assistant men's basketball coach back in the early 1990s and was a part of the 1990 Ball State team that made a magical run to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Jeff Hecklinski, Joey's cousin, was the wide receivers coach for the Cardinals from 2004-08 under Brady Hoke. He recently reunited with Hoke at San Diego State as the offensive coordinator.
Hecklinski earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Marian in 2014. He was Marian's starting quarterback and team captain as a senior in 2013. He was also a part of the 2012 Marian team that won the NAIA national title.
Ball State concluded the 2019 season 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the MAC. The Cardinals won the Bronze Stalk Trophy from Northern Illinois for the first time since 2008 and capped the year by knocking off league champion Miami for the Red Bird Rivalry Trophy, 41-27.
Ball State opens the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 with a home game against Maine.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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