Boston College has hired Stan Heath as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team, announced today by head coach Jim Christian.
Heath has 13 years of head coaching experience at Kent State, Arkansas and South Florida with a career record of 209-207. Christian worked as an assistant coach with Heath at Kent State in 2001-02.
“I couldn’t be more excited to bring Stan to Boston College,” Christian said. “Stan is one of the best basketball minds out there, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and success to the program. I have known Stan for a long time and I know that he will be a perfect addition to this staff, this program, and the university as a whole.”
Heath was the head coach at USF from 2008-14, leading the Bulls to a pair of 20-win seasons and appearances in the NIT and NCAA Tournament. In the 2011-12 season, Heath led USF to its first NCAA Tournament in 20 years while setting program records for wins (22) and conference wins (12) in a season. The Bulls advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament that year and he was named the Big East Coach of the Year.
“This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join Jim’s staff and the BC family,” Heath said. “Jim Christian is innovative, a terrific teacher and connects extremely well to young people. I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead Boston College basketball to the top.”
Prior to his time in Tampa, Heath spent five seasons as the head coach at Arkansas. He led the Razorbacks to consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2006 and 2007 while going 82-71 in Fayetteville. Arkansas won 20 games in each of his last two seasons and advanced to the title game of the SEC Tournament in 2007.
Heath got his first head coaching job in 2001-02 at Kent State and led the Golden Flashes to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The team went 30-6, claimed the MAC regular season and tournament titles, set a league record for wins and defeated three nationally ranked opponents.
Heath was an assistant coach under Tom Izzo at Michigan State from 1996-2001. The Spartans advanced to three Final Fours and won the 2000 national championship while he was on the staff. Michigan State had a record of 132-37 while he was there.
The Detroit, Mich., native also had coaching stops at Bowling Green, Wayne State, Albion College and Hillsdale College prior to his stint in East Lansing. Last year, Heath joined ESPN as a men’s college basketball analyst.
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