Dan Heefner is in his 19th season as the head coach of the DBU Baseball team and his 22nd year with the program. During his previous 18 seasons at the helm, Heefner has guided the DBU Baseball program to the NCAA postseason 14 times, including 13 of the last 14 years. The Patriots are also one of just five teams in college baseball to reach the NCAA Regionals each of the past 10 years.
Heefner has been a four-time Conference Coach of the Year during his career, garnering the Keith LeClair Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2024 and the Missouri Valley Conference Dan Callahan Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2021. Heefner is also a two-time American Baseball Coaches Association Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2008 & 2011).
In 19 seasons at DBU, Heefner owns a career record of 693-344-1, and his .668 win percentage ranks as the ninth-highest in the nation among active NCAA Division I coaches. Dating back to the 2015 season when the Patriots hosted the Dallas Regional, Heefner has guided DBU to 437 wins, and the Patriots' 42.5 wins per season is the seventh-highest average in the country over the last 11 years.
AVERAGE WINS PER YEAR SINCE 2015
1. LSU (45.7)
2. Florida (44.8)
3. Oregon State (44.0)
4. Arkansas (43.8)
5. Vanderbilt (43.5)
6. Southern Miss (43.4)
7. DBU (42.5)
8. Louisville (42.1)
9. East Carolina (41.9)
10. Texas A&M (41.3)
In the postseason, Heefner has led DBU to a pair of trips to the Super Regionals. In 2021, the Patriots won the Fort Worth Regional to advance to the Columbia Super Regional. Ten years prior in 2011, DBU clinched the Fort Worth Regional to punch their ticket to the Santa Clara Super Regional. The Patriots have also reached the regional finals in seven of the last nine years, dating back to 2015 when DBU hosted the Dallas Regional.
Player development has been a hallmark of Dan Heefner’s coaching career. During his tenure as the head coach at DBU, Heefner has produced 26 All-Americans, a mark that ranks as the 11th-highest total in college baseball dating back to 2009, as well as 16 Freshman All-Americans since 2008. Heefner has also coached 81 players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including 11 that have reached the Big Leagues. Since 2015, the Patriots’ 56 draft picks rank as the 24th-most selections from any program in the nation.
YEAR-BY-YEAR
DBU is coming off a standout 2025 campaign, capturing its second Conference USA regular-season crown in just three years as a member of the league. The Patriots secured their 11th straight NCAA postseason berth, earning the No. 2 seed at the Baton Rouge Regional. Nationally ranked for all but three weeks of the regular season, DBU climbed as high as No. 13 in the Perfect Game poll entering the postseason. The Patriots closed the year with a 41-18 record, marking their 10th 40-win season in the past 11 years.
In 2024, the Patriots won the Conference USA Tournament and advanced as the No. 2 seed to the Tucson Regional. DBU stormed out of the gates to their best start in the program’s Division I era by winning their first nine games and improved to 11-1 after defeating No. 15 Alabama in 12 innings to win the Frisco College Classic. DBU eventually earned its highest ranking in school history, reaching as high as No. 7 on March 25, and was a consensus top 10 team in all five major college baseball polls on the week of April 1. DBU finished the season with a 45-15 record, posting their third-highest win total in program history.
The 2023 season saw DBU win the Conference USA regular season title in their first year in the league and earn the No. 2 seed at the Stillwater Regional, where they would reach their seventh regional final in the last eight years. The Patriots joined the likes of Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Vanderbilt as one of only five teams in the nation to reach the NCAA postseason each of the last nine years. During the 2023 season, the Patriots set a school record for most consecutive wins, winning 14 straight games from April 1-22.
In 2022, DBU reached the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed at the Austin Regional. The Patriots capped off their season with a 34-24-1 record and fell six wins shy of posting their eighth consecutive 40-win season.
2021 will be remembered as one of the all-time great seasons in program history as DBU won three championships and reached the Columbia Super Regionals, where they faced Virginia. The Patriots’ three titles included the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles before winning the Fort Worth Regional over a field that included the No. 6 national seed TCU, a three-time national champion in Oregon State, and McNeese State. DBU finished with a 41-18 record, making them the only team in college baseball to have seven consecutive 40-win seasons. The Patriots also earned their highest end-of-season ranking when all five national polls tabbed DBU at No. 14.
In 2020, the Patriots posted a 12-4 record before college baseball witnessed the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2020 season, DBU was ranked in the Top 25 all five weeks, winning all four of their weekend series, including a key series win on the road at then-ranked No. 13 North Carolina.
Prior to the 2020 season, the Patriots were coming off their sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after earning an at-large bid to the postseason in 2019. As the No. 2 seed at the Lubbock Regional, DBU advanced to the regional finals for the fifth consecutive year, where they eventually fell to then-ranked No. 6 Texas Tech, capping off the 2019 season with a 43-20 record. At season’s end, the Patriots were ranked No. 24 in the nation by D1Baseball.
The 2018 season saw the Patriots reach the postseason as the No. 3 seed at the Fayetteville Regional. After a first-round loss to Southern Miss, DBU bounced back with victories over Oral Roberts and Southern Miss before falling to then-ranked No. 4 Arkansas, 4-3, capping off their 2018 campaign with a 42-21 record.
In 2017, DBU won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to earn the league's automatic bid. It marked the third time since DBU joined The Valley in 2014, in which the Patriots clinched the MVC Tournament title. DBU advanced to the Fort Worth Regional as the No. 3 seed and reached the regional finals for the third straight year. The Patriots finished 2017 with a 42-21 record and won 22 of their final 26 games leading up to the NCAA postseason, which was the second-best record in the nation over that span. Following the 2017 season, DBU was ranked No. 20 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball, marking the third straight year that the Patriots finished the season nationally ranked.
In 2016, DBU won both the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the Lubbock Regional as the No. 2 seed. The Patriots finished the 2016 season with a 44-19 record, reaching the regional final for the fourth time in the last six years and finishing just two wins shy of matching a school record for the most victories in a single season. Following their 2016 campaign, DBU was tabbed No. 24 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball polls.
Heefner guided the Patriots to a historic season in 2015, as DBU won a school-record 46 games and hosted the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament. The Patriots also held the No. 1 RPI in the nation for eight of the last nine weeks of the regular season and finished the year ranked No. 15 in the country by Perfect Game, a mark that ranks as the highest end-of-season ranking in school history.
In 2014, DBU competed in its inaugural season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Heefner’s club burst onto the scene by winning the MVC Tournament in Terre Haute, Indiana, and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Patriots earned the No. 2 seed at the Fort Worth Regional and finished the season with a 40-21 record, making it the third time in the past four years in which DBU reached 40 wins.
Heefner and the Patriots made their second consecutive trip to the postseason in 2012, as DBU earned a trip to the Waco Regional. The Patriots advanced to the Regional Championship game for the second straight year and finished the year with a 41-19 record.
In 2011, Heefner guided the Patriots to even more national recognition, winning the NCAA Fort Worth Regional in a field that included TCU, Oklahoma, and Oral Roberts. Heefner was again named the ABCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year as his team competed in the Santa Clara Super Regional against the University of California-Berkley. The Patriots finished the year with a 42-20 record, marking the 33rd consecutive winning season for the program, and finished as high as No. 16 in the nation at season’s end by Collegiate Baseball. DBU’s high-powered offense in 2011 ranked in the Top 25 nationally in several different categories, and Jason Krizan set a new NCAA record for doubles in a season.
Heefner took little time to make his mark at DBU after being named the sixth head coach in Dallas Baptist University history in July 2007. In his first year at the helm, Heefner led the Patriots to several historic milestones. In 2008, DBU earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance by receiving a No. 2 seed in the College Station Regional after finishing the regular season with the 29th-best RPI in the nation.
DBU’s at-large bid marked the first time since 1992 that an NCAA Division I Independent team, other than Miami, made the NCAA Tournament and earned Heefner the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Midwest Region Coach of the Year Award. Heefner was also named the Independent Coach of the Year, which he received again following the 2009 season. In 2009, the Patriots went 38-17 and finished the regular season with the 36th best RPI in the nation.
DBU’S SEASON RECORDS UNDER HEEFNER
2008: 37-19 (College Station Regional)
2009: 38-17
2010: 28-27
2011: 42-20 (Santa Clara Super Regional)
2012: 41-19 (Waco Regional Finals)
2013: 30-30
2014: 40-21 (Fort Worth Regional)
2015: 46-15 (Dallas Regional Finals)
2016: 44-19 (Lubbock Regional Finals)
2017: 42-21 (Fort Worth Regional Finals)
2018: 42-21 (Fayetteville Regional Finals)
2019: 43-20 (Lubbock Regional Finals)
2020: 12-4
*Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021: 41-18 (Columbia Super Regional)
2022: 34-24-1 (Austin Regional)
2023: 47-16 (Stillwater Regional Finals)
2024: 45-15 (Tucson Regional)
2025: 41-18 (Tucson Regional)
TOTAL: 693-344-1 (.668)
CONFERENCE TITLES UNDER HEEFNER
2014: MVC Tournament
2016: MVC Regular-Season
2016: MVC Tournament
2017: MVC Tournament
2019: MVC Regular-Season
2021: MVC Regular-Season
2021: MVC Tournament
2023: CUSA Regular-Season
2024: CUSA Tournament
2025: CUSA Regular-Season
During Heefner’s 18 seasons as head coach at DBU, the Patriots have seen numerous players receive individual awards for their success on and off the field. Since 2008, DBU has produced 26 All-Americans, 16 Freshman All-Americans, and three Academic All-Americans, including the 2018 Academic All-America Player of the Year in Devlin Granberg.
Dating back to the 2013 season when DBU transitioned from an Independent to the Western Athletic Conference, Heefner has coached 112 All-Conference selections. DBU has also shined in the classroom under Heefner’s leadership as 35 Patriots have been named to the conference’s All-Academic Team and DBU has been awarded the CUSA Sport Academic Award in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS DURING HEEFNER’S TENURE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
2016 - Darick Hall (MVC)
2018 - Devlin Granberg (MVC)
2021 - Jackson Glenn (MVC)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR:
2016 - Colin Poche (MVC)
2018 - Trevor Conn (MVC)
2024 - Ryan Johnson (CUSA)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
2017 - Camden Duzenack (MVC)
2018 - Jimmy Glowenke (MVC)
2023 - Nathan Humphreys (CUSA)
2025 - Nathan Humphreys (CUSA)
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
2016 - Jameson Hannah (MVC)
2018 - Jimmy Glowenke (MVC)
2022 - Luke Heefner (MVC)
2023 - Grant Jay (CUSA)
2024 - Luke Pettitte (CUSA)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:
2016 - Darick Hall (MVC)
2018 - Kody Funderburk (MVC)
2023 - Ethan Mann (CUSA)
2024 - Michael Dattalo (CUSA)
DBU IN THE DRAFT UNDER HEEFNER
Developing players to advance their careers to the professional ranks has become a staple of the DBU Baseball program under Heefner's guidance. During Heefner’s 18-year career as the head coach at DBU, 81 players have been selected in the Major League Draft, including 31 taken in the top 10 rounds. Dating back to the 2015 MLB Draft, DBU's 56 draft selections are the 24th-highest total in college baseball. Since Heefner arrived at DBU as an assistant coach in 2005, 96 players have pursued professional baseball careers.
DBU MLB Draft Highlights (2009–2025)
- 2025 – 5 players drafted: James Ellwanger (3rd Round - Twins), Micah Bucknam (4th Round - Blue Jays), Mason Peters (4th Round - Mariners), Michael Dattalo (9th Round - Cardinals), Grant Jay (12th Round - Mariners)
- 2024 – 2 players drafted: Ryan Johnson (2nd Round - Angels), Jaron DeBerry (3rd Round - Brewers). Ryan Johnson became just the second player in MLB history to make his debut on Opening Day without ever appearing in a minor league game.
- 2023 – School record: 8 players drafted (Tied for 4th-most in the nation). 3 pitchers selected in top 10 rounds: Braxton Bragg (8th Round - Orioles), Kyle Amendt (9th Round - Diamondbacks), Zane Russell (10th Round - Diamondbacks).
- 2022 – 3 players drafted: Jacob Meador (12th Round - Dodgers), Chandler Arnold (13th Round - Cardinals), Ryan Wrobleski (20th Round - Astros).
- 2021 – 5 players drafted (6th-most in nation), 2 in top 10 rounds: Dominic Hamel (3rd Round - Mets), Jackson Glenn (5th Round - Pirates).
- 2020 – 2 players drafted in 2nd round (1 of only 9 programs with 2 or more draft picks in the first two rounds): Burl Carraway (51st overall pick - Cubs), Jimmy Glowenke (68th overall pick - Giants)
- 2019 – 6 players drafted; top picks: MD Johnson (6th Round - Marlins), Jordan Martinson (11th Round - Mets).
- 2018 – 7 players drafted (6th-most in the nation). Jameson Hannah (2nd Round - Athletics, 2nd-highest DBU pick), Devlin Granberg (6th Round - Red Sox), Matt Duce (9th Round - Cardinals).
- 2017 – 6 players drafted (5th-most nationally) Seth Elledge (4th Round - Mariners), Dalton Higgins (7th Round - Yankees), Camden Duzenack (9th Round - Diamondbacks), Austin Listi (17th Round - Phillies).
- 2016 – 5 players drafted: David Martinelli (6th Round - Phillies), Darick Hall (14th Round - Phillies), Colin Poche (14th Round - Diamondbacks).
- 2015 – 7 players drafted (matched 2006 record). DBU is the only Texas school with top-3-round pick each year 2013–2015. 4 pitchers selected in first 8 rounds: Drew Smith (3rd Round - Mets), Brandon Koch (4th Round - Rays), Change Adams (5th Round -Yankees), Cory Taylor (8th Round - Giants). Position players: Daniel Salters (13th Round - Indians), Drew Turbin (14th Round - Orioles).
- 2014 – 2 players drafted: Cy Sneed (3rd Round – Brewers), Paul Voelker (10th Round - Tigers)
- 2013 – 6 players drafted (most in Texas that year). Top pick - Jake Johansen (2nd – Nationals) 3 DBU alums made MLB debuts in 2013: Brandon Bantz (Mariners), Vic Black (Pirates), Ryan Goins (Blue Jays).
- 2012 – 5 players drafted: 3 in top 20 rounds. Joel Hutter (10rd Round - Orioles), Stuart Pudenz (13th Round - Athletics), Austin Elkins (19th Round - Astros)
- 2011 – 3 players drafted: Top pick - Jason Krizan (8th Round - Tigers)
- 2010 – 1 player drafted: Travis Meiners (40th Round - Rangers)
- 2009 – 3 players drafted. Vic Black (1st Round - Pirates), Highest draft pick in DBU history at the time, MLB debut in 2013. Ryan Goins (4th Round - Blue Jays)
33 TOP 10 ROUND PICKS IN MLB DRAFT UNDER HEEFNER
1st: Victor Black (2009 - Pittsburgh Pirates)
2nd: Ryan Johnson (2024 - Los Angeles Angels)
2nd: Burl Carraway (2021 - Chicago Cubs)
2nd: Jimmy Glowenke (2021 - San Francisco Giants)
2nd: Jameson Hannah (2018 - Oakland Athletics)
2nd: Jake Johansen (2013 - Washington Nationals)
3rd: James Ellwanger (2025 - Minnesota Twins)
3rd: Jaron DeBerry (2024 - Milwaukee Brewers)
3rd: Dominic Hamel (2021 - New York Mets)
3rd: Drew Smith (2015 - Detroit Tigers)
3rd: Cy Sneed (2014 - Milwaukee Brewers)
4th: Micah Bucknam (2025 - Toronto Blue Jays)
4th: Mason Peters (2025 - Seattle Mariners)
4th: Seth Elledge (2017 - Seattle Mariners)
4th: Brandon Koch (2015 - Tampa Bay Rays)
4th: Ryan Goins (2009 - Toronto Blue Jays)
5th: Jackson Glenn (2021 - Pittsburgh Pirates)
5th: Chance Adams (2015 - New York Yankees)
6th: MD Johnson (2019 - Miami Marlins)
6th: Devlin Granberg (2018 - Boston Red Sox)
6th: David Martinelli (2016 - Philadelphia Phillies)
7th: Dalton Higgins (2017 - New York Yankees)
8th: Braxton Bragg (2023 - Baltimore Orioles)
8th: Cory Taylor (2015 - San Francisco Giants)
8th: Jason Krizan (2011 - San Francisco Giants)
9th: Michael Dattalo (2025 - St. Louis Cardinals)
9th: Kyle Amendt (2023 - Arizona Diamonbacks)
9th: Matt Duce (2018 - St. Louis Cardinals)
9th: Camden Duzenack (2017 - Arizona Diamondbacks)
10th: Zane Russell (2023 - Arizona Diamondbacks)
10th: Paul Voelker (2014 - Detroit Tigers)
10th: Joel Hutter (2012 - Baltimore Orioles)
10th: Evan Bigley (2008 - Minnesota Twins)
Under Heefner's direction, the Patriots' skipper has developed DBU into one of the most potent offensive teams in the nation. As a result of his leadership, DBU has inserted itself into the college baseball spotlight by ranking in the top 25 nationally in 115 offensive categories since 2005. Widely regarded as one of the top hitting coaches in the country, Heefner has presented twice at the American Baseball Coaches Association national convention on hitting and has also presented in Europe, Canada, and numerous state conventions on hitting and building team culture.
DBU BASEBALL NATIONAL OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
2025
#16 Slugging % (.527)
#20 Doubles (129)
#20 Home Runs (100)
#20 Home Runs Per Game (1.69)
#23 Base on Balls (327)
2024
#12 Home Runs (115)
#13 Slugging % (.542)
#14 Doubles (134)
#15 Home Runs Per Game (1.92)
#18 Doubles Per Game (2.23)
#24 Hits (625)
2023
#7 Stolen Bases (134)
#8 Slugging % (.540)
#9 Home Runs (119)
#10 Home Runs Per Game (1.89)
#13 Runs (520)
#16 Sacrifice Flies (35)
#17 Stolen Bases Per Game (2.13)
#20 Doubles (135)
#21 Hits (648)
#21 Scoring (8.3)
2021
#3 Home Runs (101)
#5 Home Runs Per Game (1.71)
#6 Slugging Percentage (.511)
#10 Base on Balls (305)
#13 Runs (451)
#15 Scoring (7.6)
#17 Doubles (118)
#22 Stolen Bases (85)
#24 On Base Percentage (.395)
2020 *COVID Shortened-Season
#18 Home Runs (20)
#18 Home Runs Per Game (1.25)
2019
#20 Doubles (124)
#20 Home Runs (75)
#23 Runs (439)
2018
#2 Doubles (150)
#3 Doubles Per Game (2.38)
#4 Slugging Percentage (.495)
#6 Home Runs (86)
#7 Home Runs Per Game (1.37)
#8 Base on Balls (338)
#10 Runs (467)
#10 Sacrifice Flies (35)
#10 Scoring (7.4)
#11 Hits (648)
#12 On Base Percentage (.400)
#21 Batting Average (.297)
2017
#3 Home Runs (97)
#3 Home Runs Per Game (1.54)
#4 Doubles (143)
#4 Slugging Percentage (.517)
#6 Doubles Per Game (2.27)
#12 Runs (464)
#18 Scoring (7.4)
#20 Hits (645)
#23 On-Base Percentage (.391)
2016
#2 Sacrifice Flies (39)
#21 Base on Balls (289)
#22 Home Runs (62)
#25 Triples (21)
2015
#10 Doubles (131)
#19 Doubles Per Game (2.15)
#24 Home Runs (53)
#24 Runs (402)
2014
#7 Base on Balls (291)
#14 Home Runs (43)
#17 Runs (387)
#20 Home Runs Per Game (0.7)
#21 Triples (21)
2013
#5 Home Runs (61)
#5 Home Runs Per Game (1.02)
#18 Slugging Percentage (.445)
2012
#5 Slugging Percentage (.476)
#7 Home Runs (63)
#16 Doubles (124)
#18 Runs (410)
#18 Scoring (6.8)
#20 Batting Avg. (.304)
#23 Triples (21)
2011
#2 Total Runs (509)
#3 Scoring (8.2)
#3 Sacrifice Flies (43)
#4 Base on Balls (310)
#8 Doubles (139)
#9 Home Runs (60)
#10 Home Runs Per Game (2.24)
#12 Doubles Per Game (2.24)
#15 Hit by Pitch (88)
#24 Total Hits (644)
2010
#12 Doubles Per Game (2.65)
#13 Slugging Percentage (.541)
#18 Home Runs Per Game (1.51)
2009
#5 Slugging Percentage (.582)
#7 Home Runs (102)
#7 Home Runs Per Game (1.85)
#7 Scoring Per Game (9.4)
#10 Total Runs (515)
#12 Batting Avg. (.343)
#14 Doubles (139 or 2.53/game)
#18 Total Hits (681)
2008
#24 Batting Avg. (.323)
2007
#9 Home Runs Per Game (1.25)
#13 Scoring Per Game (7.6)
#23 Doubles Per Game (2.17)
#24 Slugging Percentage Per Game (.479)
2006
#4 Home Runs Per Game (1.54)
#5 Slugging Percentage (.518)
#6 Triples Per Game (.50)
#10 Runs Scored Per Game (8.4)
#15 Doubles Per Game (2.25)
2005
#3 Doubles Per Game (2.69)
#7 Batting Avg. (.329)
#9 Slugging Percentage (.510)
#10 Triples Per Game (.45)
#17 Scoring Per Game (7.9 runs)
While Heefner has led the Patriots to great success on the field, it is far from the team’s sole focus; the Patriot Discipleship program is designed with opportunities to challenge players at all levels of spiritual maturity. The Patriot Baseball Team has also embraced DBU’s mission of developing servant leaders by participating in numerous service activities in the community and even internationally.
Over the past 18 years, the Patriots have served in the San Gabriel Orphanage and conducted baseball clinics while on mission trips to the Dominican Republic (2023 & 2011), Cuba (2019), Curacao (2015), and Guatemala (2007). The Patriots have also volunteered at the North Texas Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics of Texas Track and Field Championship, and conducted numerous free baseball clinics in and around Dallas. The team has also excelled in the classroom, posting a team GPA average of 3.21 since Heefner became head coach.
Before coming to DBU, Heefner was an assistant coach at Creighton University and the University of Northern Iowa. While at Creighton, he was the hitting and catching coach. Under his guidance in 2004, the Bluejay hitters saw an improvement in nearly every statistical category from the 2003 season, including a 24-point increase in batting average. Defensively, the Bluejay catchers contributed to Creighton’s nation-leading .982 fielding percentage, which at the time was the second-best in NCAA history.
While working with the University of Northern Iowa hitters, his 2003 team led the Missouri Valley Conference in 10 offensive categories in conference play. His 2002 squad also posted the highest batting average of any team in conference play.
As a player, Heefner was named an All-American in his junior and senior seasons at Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA school in Kankakee, Illinois. In 2000, he led the nation in both home runs (22) and RBIs (102). Before transferring to Olivet Nazarene University, Heefner played for two years at the University of Northern Iowa.
Heefner received his bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University and his master’s from the University of Northern Iowa. Heefner and his wife, Liz, reside in Cedar Hill, Texas, with their five sons: Luke (23), David (20), Zachariah (19), Titus (17) and Jacob (11). The Heefners attend Midlothian Bible Church.
