Shane Heirman will enter his third season as the head coach of the UIW men’s basketball program in 2025-26, after being hired as the program’s eighth men’s basketball head coach in May 2023. At the time of his hiring, Heirman was the third-youngest men’s basketball head coach in the country (34 years old).
In Heirman's second year, he became one of just 23 coaches to double their win total from 2023-24 to 24-25, while also orchestrating the biggest turnaround nationally from year one to year two, going from 8 wins to 19. This historic season featured the most wins in UIW Division One history (19), most home wins (11), and most conference wins since 2015-16 (9).
Under Coach Heirman's leadership, the Cardinals got off to a 9-5 start, the program's best in the Division One era. Heirman led the team to 10 wins in the second half of the season, with three coming against top-200 KenPom teams.
Under Heirman the Cardinals saw much postseason success. UIW earned a first-round victory over Southeastern Louisiana, the first-ever conference tournament win in program history. The Cardinals went on to the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in Daytona Beach, Florida, the second postseason appearance in program history and the first-ever appearance in the CBI. Heirman guided the Cardinals to the first two postseason wins in program history before falling to the eventual champions, Illinois State, in the semi-final.
In addition to these firsts, his Cardinal program recorded a team GPA of 3.3, the most community service hours in program history, and currently holds a 100% Academic Progress Rate (APR).
Coach Heirman led one of the country’s most prolific offenses in 2025, scoring 73.9 points per game, shooting 46.8% from the field, and knocking down 37.1% of three-point shots. UIW was the only team to have three players score 15 or more points per game, with Davion Bailey, Dylan Hayman, and Jalin Anderson all above that mark.
The Cardinals also excelled analytically, finishing with the highest KenPom ranking in program history (224) and highest NET ranking in program history (249).
In his first season with the Cardinals, Coach Heirman achieved two of his priorities: establish the right culture at UIW and develop his players over the course of the season.
The first key moment of the season included an emphatic 100-81 win at Arkansas Pine Bluff, marking both the program’s first non-conference road win and largest road margin of victory since 2016.
Another season highlight saw UIW travel to Coach Heirman’s hometown of Chicago to face Illinois-Chicago. In a thrilling 67-66 victory, the Cardinals went 9-20 from three on what was the nation’s top three-point defense at the time. The win marked the first win over a Missouri Valley opponent in program history and the first road win over a top-200 KenPom team since 2015.
Lastly, an early Coach Heirman stamp on the program was the physicality and tenacity on the glass. UIW finished the season third in the Southland in total rebounds per game (36.5), second in defensive rebound percentage (72.5%), and fourth in offensive rebound percentage (31.7%).
Prior to UIW
Prior to UIW, Coach Heirman spent two seasons as associate head coach at Central Michigan University under the leadership of head coach Tony Barbee where he worked closely with and helped develop the guards including 2022-23 MAC Freshman of the Year in Reggie Bass.
Coach Heirman helped CMU sign a top-75 recruiting class in 2022 according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, the highest-ranked class in program history.
Prior to his stint at CMU, Coach Heirman spent four seasons as an assistant coach at DePaul University where he was and remains the youngest assistant coach in Big East conference history (27 years old) and helped guide the Blue Demons to their highest win total and first postseason appearance in over a decade.
In the 2019-20 season, DePaul got off to the fastest start in program history, winning 12 of its first 13 games. The Blue Demons won six games against teams ranked as a Quad 1 opponent in the NET.
Coach Heirman was instrumental in the recruitment and development of five future NBA players while at DePaul, including Max Strus (2019-20 Second Team All-Conference), Paul Reed (2019-20 Conference Most Improved Player), Javon Freeman-Liberty, Romeo Weems, and Nick Ogenda.
During his final two seasons in Chicago, Heirman helped the Blue Demons sign consecutive top-45 recruiting classes nationally, the two highest-ranked in program history.
Before entering the college coaching ranks, Coach Heirman spent three seasons as the head coach of La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Indiana, transforming a small private school of less than 200 students into a powerhouse program and one of the most recognizable brands in the basketball world.
Coach Heirman amassed a record of 82-7, while making consecutive GEICO National Championship appearances, culminating in the 2016-17 season in which Heirman’s Lakers went 28-1 and won the national championship in New York City.
Heirman recruited, coached, and developed a number of players who would go on to play in the NBA, including Jaren Jackson Jr., Jordan Poole, Isaiah Stewart, Jeremy Sochan, Isaac Humphries, Brian Bowen II, Kevin Zhang, Tyger Campbell, Jeremiah Tilmon, and James Banks.
During his time at La Lumiere, Coach Herman received several national honors, including being named 2017 Flo Hoops National Coach of the Year and a finalist for the 2017 Naismith Coach of the Year Award. Heirman was also named head coach of the West team at the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic, the top high school All-American game. Heirman guided his West squad to a 124-116 victory, coaching future NBA players such as Trae Young, DeAndre Ayton, Collin Sexton, P.J. Washington, and Gary Trent Jr.
During his time at La Lumiere, Coach Heirman was named a director of the Nike Basketball Skills Academy, a weeklong camp in which the best basketball players in the world provide instruction to the top high school players in the country. Coach Heirman worked closely with players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving to develop the curriculum and implementation for the event.
Coach Heirman played his college basketball at the University of Tulsa under head coach Doug Wojcik.
Heirman won 92 career games as a player and made a postseason appearance in each of his four seasons. He was a part of one the 2009 CBI championship team, and consecutive NIT tournament teams in 2010 and 2011. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in arts & communications from Tulsa in 2011.
The 6-foot-1-inch Heirman was a prep standout at Marian Central Catholic High School. He averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for the Hurricanes en route to first-team all-city honors by the Daily Herald and Northwest Herald.
A native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Heirman and his wife Claire have a daughter, Kennison, and a son, Cade. He met Claire at Tulsa as she was a 2013 graduate and played soccer for the Golden Hurricanes where she ranks ninth all time in goals scored with 26.
What They're Saying About Coach Heirman
"Shane has been successful everywhere he’s coached. Back when he was at La Lumiere, I recruited several top players from him and he knew how to find the right guys and develop them the right way. He’s a sharp recruiter, a strong coach, and someone with a really bright future in this profession. He’s proven himself at every stop, and now that he’s leading his own program, I think San Antonio and Incarnate Word are in for something special. "
- Tom Izzo, Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Michigan State University
"Shane has always had the qualities needed to thrive as a head coach. He’s a natural leader with exceptional people skills, strong organization, and a clear vision for what he wants to build. He’s coached and recruited high-level players who trust him and that trust has helped them grow not just as athletes, but as men. Shane also has a unique ability to connect with supporters and clearly communicate a vision that draws people in. He’s passionate, confident, and fully prepared to take on any challenge."
- Dave Leitao, Director of Overtime Elite and former Men’s Basketball Head Coach, DePaul University and University of Virginia
“From day one, it was clear that Shane had all the tools to be a successful head coach. We had the opportunity to work together at La Lumiere and to build a national-championship caliber program together from scratch, and I saw firsthand how he connects with people, earns trust, and brings out the best in those around him. He’s organized, driven, and has a vision that others want to follow. His ability to communicate, to fundraise, and to unite a program is rare. I’m excited to see what he continues to build at Incarnate Word.”
- Alan Huss, Head Coach In-Waiting, Creighton University and former Men’s Basketball Head Coach, High Point University
“I have known Shane for over a decade, and in that time, he has demonstrated a wealth of basketball knowledge, very strong recruiting ties, and a unique ability to cultivate relationships. I entrusted in him our entire program and he exceeded my high expectations over the two years we were together. After working hand in hand, I have zero doubt in his ability to run a high-level program as evident in his quick turnaround of the UIW program.”
- Tony Barbee, Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Central Michigan University, and former Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Auburn University and University of Texas-El Paso
“I have known Shane for 18 years now. I coached him and he coached my sons. I trust him! An outstanding coach, he developed my boys into Division One basketball players. He has built a national high school program and led them to a national championship. He has proven himself as an elite recruiter and built great relationships. He is well prepared to run a college basketball program and I have no doubt about his ability to win at a high level.”
- Doug Wojcik, Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach, Michigan State University, and former Men’s Basketball Head Coach, College of Charleston and University of Tulsa
“Three words I’d use to describe Shane Heirman are: thoughtful, passionate, and charismatic. He truly cares about his players, to the point where I now consider him a friend, someone I know I can call anytime. Shane is deeply committed to getting the best out of his players and creating a strong, family-oriented environment. Even before starting a family of his own, he preached that mindset, and now with two kids, I imagine that’s only grown stronger. What sets him apart most is his ability to genuinely connect with players and support them through challenges on and off the court. I’m forever grateful he came into my life.”
- Max Strus, Starting Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
