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Western Illinois University Athletics

MBB Coaches H&S 700.4516

Kyle Heikkinen

Kyle Heikkinen, who is entering his fifth season at Western Illinois University, was promoted to Associate Head Coach by Chad Boudreau on June 1, 2023.

He began his stint at WIU ahead of the 2020-21 season under the school’s previous regime (Head Coach Rob Jeter).

During his time in Macomb, he was a member of the winningest first-year staff in Leatherneck Men's Basketball history. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff was able to assemble the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history.

Three of those student athletes eventually went on to be selected to the All-Summit League Team; two additional student athletes, following conference realignment, were selected to the All-Ohio Valley League team.

Heikkinen has helped guide the Leathernecks to the most season wins, conference wins, most road wins during a season, and longest winning streak in a decade; capped off by post-season invitational tournament invites in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

During his first season in charge of defensive strategy (2023-2024) for the Leathernecks, Heikkinen guided WIU to a Top 20 scoring defense, Top 20 Field Goal Percentage Defense and Top 7 Three Point Percentage Defense nationally; equating to a Top 2 defense in every statistical category for the Ohio Valley Conference.

He was the lead recruiter for Drew Cisse, who was named First Team All-OVC and OVC Defensive player of the year in 2023-2024.

Some other notable achievements during his time at Western Illinois:
  • More than doubled overall wins and conference wins from year-one to year-two
  • Part of largest single game comeback in school history
  • First time in school history to sweep South Dakota, South Dakota State, North Dakota and North Dakota State in a single season at home
  • Buy-Game wins at the University of Nebraska (B1G), Illinois State (MVC), San Jose State (MW) and South Alabama (Sun Belt)
  • Largest attendance at home (Western Hall) in one decade

Before joining the Leathernecks, he was on staff at Highland Community College with Coach Boudreau, where for three seasons, he was responsible for recruiting, opponent scouting, film breakdown, academic monitoring, fundraising, team travel coordination, and the organization and administration of summer basketball camps.

Highland won three straight Arrowhead Conference Championships and the NJCAA District 10 title in 2018 as well as the Region IV championships in 2018 and 2020. 13 student-athletes attained NCAA Division I scholarships under his tutelage. 

His collegiate coaching journey began at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (2013-17), where he helped put together one of the best four-year runs in school history, headlined by a 2014 NCAA Division III national championship title.

The program won 90 games that included three 21+ win seasons and three NCAA tournament appearances. In 2015, UW-Whitewater won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament and regular-season titles while setting the school record for conference wins in a single season (15).

Prior to his stop at Whitewater, Heikkinen spent five seasons with the Fort Atkinson (WI) High School boys' basketball and football programs.
 
Outside of coaching, Heikkinen has worked for ESPN Wisconsin, Rivals.com and 247Sports. As a member of Rivals.com, he spent three years (2007-2010) as a recruiting analyst covering high school basketball and football across the Midwest.

During his most recent stop with 247Sports from 2010-2013, Heikkinen was named Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Badger247.com, covering athletics for the University of Wisconsin. 

In addition, Heikkinen was a licensed insurance agent for Humana Inc., in the states of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Wisconsin. He was awarded with the top sales honor – President’s Council – in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

The Fort Atkinson (WI) native graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Human Performance & Recreation. He minored in Coaching.
 
He resides in Macomb with his wife (Jess) and daughters (Emma & Madison).