Heaton tabbed as new Grizzly football coach

by Chris Day, Adams State Sports Information Director 

ALAMOSA, Colo.- When looking to cement the future of the Adams State College football program, Athletic Director Larry Mortensen has looked back to the recent past to find the new head coach of the Grizzlies.

On Thursday, Mortensen announced that former Grizzly assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Marty Heaton has been offered and has accepted ASC's head coaching position.

Heaton has served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at the Colorado School of Mines for the past two seasons, a position he moved on to in January of 2006 after a six-year stint with the Grizzlies.

A 1982 ASC graduate, Heaton orchestrated the Grizzly defensive unit that led the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in total defense for three straight years (2003-05). In 2004, the unit was named as the NCAA Division II Defense of the Year by the College Sports Report.

"I am pleased that Marty Heaton has agreed to return to ASC as our head football coach. Coach Heaton is above all a great teacher and a mentor," ASC President Dr. David Svaldi said.

"He has been selected as a teacher of the year on six different occasions during his career and is an ASC alum. He is committed to the college and we are fortunate to have him back," Svaldi added.

"Marty Heaton will bring passion and discipline to our football program. More importantly, he will instill and demand these qualities from our student-athletes both on and off the field," Mortensen said about the hire.

"He is recognized as a motivator, teacher and workaholic. He bleeds green and is committed to taking the program to new heights," Mortensen added.

In his time with the Grizzlies, Heaton coached numerous All-RMAC and All-Region players and guided 3-time All-American and 2-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Adam McGurk. All-American and 2004 Cactus Bowl Participant Charles Allgood and 2005 RMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Ernesto Villasenor also flourished under Heaton.

Heaton's success has continued at CSM. Despite having a young squad, the Orediggers finished second as a team in sacks in 2006 and lead all of NCAA Division II this year with 55, a 5.0 per game average. That defense, which has given up less than 300 yards per game, is allowing just 87.5 rushing yards per game and has paved the way for the 7-4 (6-2 RMAC) Orediggers, who qualified for next week's (Dec. 1) Dixie Rotary Bowl in St. George, Utah.

Prior to starting his collegiate coaching career at ASC in May of 2000, Heaton had a wealth of success and experience in the Colorado high school rankings. He served as the first-ever head coach at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch for four years leading the Grizzlies to an 11-1 mark, a 4A Prairie League title and a state quarterfinal apperance in 1999.

That program also had a solid 6-4 season in 1998, its first of varsity football, all without the services of any seniors.

Heaton also started the Highlands Ranch High School program, and coached the Falcons from 1987-96. While there, Heaton guided the team to three league championships and four state playoff appearances.

From 1981-87, Heaton was the defensive coordinator at Skyline High School in Longmont. In a stretch of just three years, the Falcons won a 1986 Class 3A State Championship after reaching the state semifinals in both of the previous two years.

Heaton won four league coach of the year awards during his high school tenure and was the Denver Broncos' High School Coach of the Week.

As a player, Heaton was a 2-time All-RMAC defensive back during his 1978-81 career and served as was selected to the NAIA Academic All-District and All-America teams. A natural leader, Heaton served as ASC's team captain as a senior after helping ASC to a share of the 1980 RMAC title and a Boot Hill Bowl appearance during his junior year.

Heaton, 47, holds a bachelor's degree in business education and also earned a master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1994. He and his wife Cathy, an English teacher at Chatfield High School, have two children. Daughter Rachel will turn 15 on Monday and is a freshman at CHS. Son Jacob is 13 and is the seventh grade.

Heaton is planning to meet with the Grizzly team next week, but will fulfill his commitment to CSM and will coach the Orediggers in the Dixie Rotary Bowl on Dec. 1 before hitting the recruiting trail on Dec. 3.