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Stan Heath
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Stanley Heath III (born December 17, 1964) is an American basketball coach currently serving as the head coach for Eastern Michigan. Heath formerly served as head coach at the University of South Florida, the University of Arkansas and Kent State University, the latter of whom he led to the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA basketball tournament. He led all three programs to at least one NCAA tournament.
Key Information
Background
[edit]Stan Heath graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School in 1983. He was an all-state guard during his time there. He went on to earn his bachelor's in social science from Eastern Michigan University in 1988 and his master's in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1993. Heath redshirted during his first year at Eastern Michigan before lettering his final three years (1985–1987).
Heath is married to the former Ramona Webb (whom he met during his junior year at Eastern Michigan) and they have two sons, Jordan and Joshua.
Coaching career
[edit]Assistant and Division II coaching
[edit]Stan Heath began his collegiate career at Hillsdale College in 1989 as an assistant. After one season, he moved to Albion College where he was an assistant and the junior varsity head coach for two years. He worked at Wayne State University in Detroit the following three years, including serving as associate head coach in 1994 when WSU set a school record for victories (25–5), helping the Tartars win two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles with a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four in 1993.
After two seasons as an assistant at Bowling Green State University, he joined Tom Izzo at Michigan State University where he was an assistant for five years. He helped the Spartans advance to the Final Four three straight years (1999, 2000, 2001), win the 2000 national title, make another appearance in the Sweet 16 and go a combined 132–37. The Spartans posted records of 17–12 in 1997, 22–8 in 1998, 33–5 in 1999, 32–7 in 2000 and 28–5 in 2001. In addition to the three trips to the Final Four, MSU also reached the Sweet 16 in 1998 and the second round of the NIT in 1997.
On March 19, 2001, Sports Illustrated featured "five college coaches waiting in the wings." Heath was on that list, along with assistant Leonard Perry of Iowa State, Florida assistant John Pelphrey, head coach Jeff Ruland of Iona and Hofstra head coach Jay Wright. A month after that, he was named the head coach at Kent State.
Kent State
[edit]Heath got his first collegiate head coach job at Kent State in 2002. Under his guidance, the Golden Flashes finished with a 30–6 record that year and won the Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles. They then came within a victory of reaching the Final Four before falling to Indiana at the South Regional finals of the NCAA tournament.
Along the way, Kent set school and MAC records for wins (30), breaking the record of 29 set by Ball State in 1989; became the first MAC team to reach the Elite Eight since Ohio University in 1964; recorded a league-record 21-game winning streak, including a 17–1 mark in conference play; beat three ranked teams in the NCAA Tournament, including No. 20 Oklahoma State, 69–61, No. 8 University of Alabama, 71–58, and No. 9 University of Pittsburgh, 78–73 in overtime; went 12–0 at home with an average attendance of 4,928, Kent's best since 1970; led the MAC in scoring defense (64.0 ppg), scoring margin (+11.9 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.418), rebounding margin (+5.0 rpg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.24) while also ranking second in three-point field goal percentage defense (.326) and turnover margin (+2.78); and suffered its five regular season losses by a total of 15 points.
Individually, Heath's 30 wins ties for the third-most by a first-year head coach in NCAA Division I history with John Warren of Oregon (1945). Only Bill Guthridge of North Carolina (34 in 1998) and Bill Hodges of Indiana State (33 in 1979) won more. The Detroit native was also voted the MAC Coach of the Year and named the national Rookie Coach of the Year by both CBSSportsline.com and CollegeInsider.com.[citation needed]
Arkansas
[edit]After his successful first season at Kent State, Heath then moved on to the head coaching position at the University of Arkansas. He was hired on March 28, 2002, to replace Nolan Richardson who had been fired that year after claiming he was being mistreated because he was African American and challenging athletic director Frank Broyles to buy out his contract.
The 2003 season (2002–2003), Heath's first as Razorback head coach, was a difficult one. With key players having left the team, as well as the normal adjustments to a new system, the team struggled to a 9–19 record.
The 2004 season (2003–2004) saw some improvement to key areas, as well as the addition of key freshmen Parade All-American Ronnie Brewer and McDonald's All-American Olu Famutimi, who contributed to a 12–16 record. The team was the 8th youngest in the NCAA.
The 2005 season (2004–2005) showed marked improvement in almost every area, most notably in the front court, with the addition of Steven Hill, Darian Townes, and Charles Thomas. The jewel of the recruiting class, Al Jefferson, never made it to Arkansas as he was selected in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Heath spoke for the team in announcing they would not accept an invitation to the NIT end of year basketball tournament. This followed an end of year slide which resulted in the loss of 5 of the last 6 games. The team finished with an 18–12 overall record.
The 2006 season (2005–2006) began with a key win over University of Kansas, and respectable losses to national powers Connecticut and Maryland. The end of conference play brought on wins over ranked opponents Florida and Tennessee, five straight wins, and a winning regular season conference record for the first time for Heath at Arkansas. The Razorbacks received an NCAA tournament bid for the first time under Heath, but lost in the first round to Bucknell. At the end of the 2005–2006 season as coach, Arkansas had improved (winning percentage, post season play, conference record) in each of the four full seasons he has coached.
The 2007 season (2006–2007) began by winning the Old Spice Classic inaugural tournament with wins over Southern Illinois, Marist, and West Virginia. The team made it to the SEC Championship Game with victories over South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks would lose to Florida in the championship game 77–56 but still received an at large bid to the 2007 NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. The Razorbacks received a 12th seed but lost in the first round against 5th seeded Southern California with the final score of 77–60. On March 26, 2007, Heath's coaching career at Arkansas ended; he believed that lackluster ticket sales played a role.[1] It was reported that Heath would get a settlement of $900,000 over the next three years after being fired. Heath had been earning $772,943 (including media contract, endorsements, etc.) plus an additional $71,000 tax deferred annuity and UA retirement account.
South Florida
[edit]Shortly after being fired from Arkansas, Heath agreed to a five-year contract with the South Florida Bulls on April 2, 2007, replacing Robert McCullum.[2] The Bulls, coming off a 12–16 season the year before, lost their first 3 games of the season before rebounding with a win over in-state rival Florida State.
During the 2009–10 season, Heath led the Bulls to their first postseason tournament appearance since 2002. The team won 20 games (with a 9–9 Big East record) and earned a spot in the NIT but lost in the first round to North Carolina State.
Heath's most successful season came in his fifth year with the Bulls, when he led them to 22 victories, and tied for fourth in the Big East league standings. It was good enough to garner a 12 seed in the NCAA tournament, where USF defeated California in a play-in game and then knocked off fifth-seeded Temple in the round of 64 before losing to Ohio in the round of 32, 62–56.
Heath and the Bulls parted ways after the team lost in the first round of the 2014 conference tournament.[3] He spent one season as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
Back to assistant ranks
[edit]On June 30, 2015, Heath and Jim Christian were reunited as Boston College announced Heath would join Christian's coaching staff.[4]
Lakeland Magic
[edit]In August 2017, Heath was announced as the new head coach of the NBA G League team the Lakeland Magic,[5] the affiliate team of the NBA's Orlando Magic. In 2021, he led Lakeland to the G League championship in the pandemic-shortened single-site season. He was then named the league's Coach of the Year.[6]
Eastern Michigan
[edit]On April 12, 2021, Heath was appointed as the new head coach of the Eastern Michigan's men's basketball team.[7]
Head coaching record
[edit]College
[edit]| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State Golden Flashes (Mid-American Conference) (2001–2002) | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | Kent State | 30–6 | 17–1 | 1st (East) | NCAA Division I Elite Eight | ||||
| Kent State: | 30–6 (.833) | 17–1 (.944) | |||||||
| Arkansas Razorbacks (Southeastern Conference) (2002–2007) | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | Arkansas | 9–19 | 4–12 | T–5th (West) | |||||
| 2003–04 | Arkansas | 12–16 | 4–12 | 6th (West) | |||||
| 2004–05 | Arkansas | 18–12 | 6–10 | 4th (West) | |||||
| 2005–06 | Arkansas | 22–10 | 10–6 | T–2nd (West) | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
| 2006–07 | Arkansas | 21–14 | 7–9 | T–3rd (West) | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
| Arkansas: | 82–71 (.536) | 31–49 (.388) | |||||||
| South Florida Bulls (Big East Conference) (2007–2013) | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | South Florida | 12–19 | 3–15 | T–15th | |||||
| 2008–09 | South Florida | 9–22 | 4–14 | 14th | |||||
| 2009–10 | South Florida | 20–13 | 9–9 | 9th | NIT first round | ||||
| 2010–11 | South Florida | 10–23 | 3–15 | 15th | |||||
| 2011–12 | South Florida | 22–14 | 12–6 | T–4th | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
| 2012–13 | South Florida | 12–19 | 3–15 | 14th | |||||
| South Florida Bulls (American Athletic Conference) (2013–2014) | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | South Florida | 12–20 | 3–15 | 10th | |||||
| South Florida: | 97–130 (.427) | 37–89 (.294) | |||||||
| Eastern Michigan Eagles (Mid-American Conference) (2021–present) | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | Eastern Michigan | 10–21 | 5–15 | 11th | |||||
| 2022–23 | Eastern Michigan | 8–23 | 5–13 | T–9th | |||||
| 2023–24 | Eastern Michigan | 13–18 | 6–12 | 10th | |||||
| 2024–25 | Eastern Michigan | 16–16 | 9–9 | T–6th | |||||
| Eastern Michigan: | 47–78 (.376) | 25–49 (.338) | |||||||
| Total: | 255–285 (.472) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Despite 20 wins this season, Arkansas fires Heath – Men's College Basketball – ESPN
- ^ NCAA College Basketball News, Videos, Scores, Standings, Stats, Teams – FOX Sports on MSN
- ^ "USF fires basketball coach Stan Heath". March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "Heath Named Assistant Men's Basketball Coach – Boston College Official Athletic Site". www.bceagles.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.
- ^ "Stan Heath lands new coaching gig in Lakeland".
- ^ "Lakeland Magic Head Coach Stan Heath Named 2020–21 NBA G League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year". NBA G League. March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Welcome Home! Stan Heath Named EMU Men's Basketball Coach". EMUEagles.com. April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
External links
[edit]Stan Heath
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Childhood and high school
Stanley Heath III was born on December 17, 1964, and raised in Detroit, Michigan.[3][2] From an early age, Heath developed a passion for basketball, honing his skills as a point guard through competitive play that prepared him for high school success.[2] Heath attended Detroit Catholic Central High School, where he graduated in 1983 after a standout career as a hardworking, playmaking point guard for the Shamrocks.[2][4] As a senior, he led the team to the 1983 Catholic High School League championship and earned All-State honors.[4] These accomplishments highlighted his leadership and set the stage for his college playing career at Eastern Michigan University.[2]College playing career
Stan Heath attended Eastern Michigan University from 1983 to 1988, where he played NCAA Division I basketball for the Eagles in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). As a 6-foot guard from Detroit Catholic Central High School, he joined the program following a standout prep career that prepared him for college-level competition.[5] He served as a backup point guard, appearing in 65 games over three seasons from 1984–85 to 1986–87 without starting a contest. Heath averaged 1.3 points, 1.0 assist, and 0.6 rebounds per game across his career, with his scoring peaking at 1.7 points per game as a sophomore in 1985–86. In MAC play, he contributed modestly but reliably in facilitating ball movement and defensive efforts, recording 1.0–1.1 assists per game and 0.2–0.5 steals per game each season, helping to support the team's backcourt rotation.[6] During his freshman year (1984–85), Heath played in 26 games under head coach Jim Boyce, as the Eagles finished 15–13 overall (9–9 in MAC) with no postseason berth. The following season (1985–86), he appeared in 20 games amid a transitional year with coaches Jim Boyce (early) and Ben Braun (interim late), resulting in a 9–18 record (5–13 MAC) and again no postseason. As a junior in 1986–87, Heath logged 19 games under Ben Braun, contributing to a 14–15 finish (8–8 MAC) in a solidly mid-pack conference campaign that ended without further play.[7][8][9]Academic degrees
Stan Heath earned a Bachelor of Science degree in social science from Eastern Michigan University in 1988.[3] His undergraduate studies coincided with his time as a player on the Eastern Michigan basketball team.[10] He later pursued advanced education in athletics, completing a Master of Arts degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1993.[3] This graduate program equipped him with specialized knowledge in areas such as program management, athlete recruitment strategies, and compliance with NCAA regulations, which proved foundational for his transition into coaching roles.[10]Coaching career
Early assistant roles
Stan Heath began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Hillsdale College, a Division II program, during the 1988–1989 season, where the Chargers finished 11–18 overall and 5–11 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).[2] After one season at Hillsdale, Heath joined Albion College, a Division III institution, serving as an assistant coach and head junior varsity coach from 1989 to 1991. During this period, the Britons compiled records of 13–11 in 1989–90 and 12–13 in 1990–91, both with 5–7 marks in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).[2] Heath advanced to Wayne State University, another Division II school, as an assistant coach from 1991 to 1994, rising to associate head coach in his final year. The Warriors enjoyed three highly successful seasons under his tenure, posting records of 23–8 (12–4 GLIAC) in 1991–92, 22–10 (9–7 GLIAC, NCAA Division II Final Four) in 1992–93, and 25–5 (14–4 GLIAC, NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional) in 1993–94; the team won two GLIAC titles and qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1993 and 1994. Heath's Midwest recruiting ties played a key role in building the program's talent base during this run.[2][11] In 1994, Heath transitioned to Division I basketball as an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), spending two seasons through 1996. The Falcons recorded 16–11 overall (10–8 MAC) in 1994–95 and 14–13 (9–9 MAC) in 1995–96.[2] Heath's most prominent early assistant role came from 1996 to 2001 at Michigan State University under head coach Tom Izzo, where he contributed to transforming the Spartans into a national powerhouse with a 132–37 overall record. The team captured four consecutive Big Ten regular-season titles, two Big Ten Tournament championships, one Sweet 16 (1998), one NIT (1997), three straight Final Four appearances (1999–2001), and the 2000 NCAA national championship. Heath handled significant recruiting duties, including landing high school All-American Kelvin Torbert, which helped establish robust networks in the Midwest and beyond.[12][13] These formative assistant positions honed Heath's skills in player evaluation, program building, and high-level competition, paving the way for his appointment as head coach at Kent State in 2001.[12]Kent State head coach
In April 2001, Stan Heath was appointed as the head coach of the Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team, replacing Gary Waters who had departed for Rutgers; Heath, a 36-year-old assistant from Michigan State, signed a five-year contract with an annual base salary of $120,000 plus incentives.[14][15] Heath's lone season in 2001–02 proved transformative, as the Golden Flashes achieved a 30–6 overall record—the most wins in school history and a Mid-American Conference (MAC) record at the time—while going 17–1 in conference play to claim both the MAC regular-season and tournament championships.[2] The team, featuring standout forward Antonio Gates who averaged 20.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, demonstrated defensive prowess by holding opponents to an average of 64.0 points per game en route to the program's deepest NCAA Tournament run. As a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region, Kent State upset No. 12 Oklahoma State 69–61 in the first round, then defeated No. 4 Pittsburgh 78–73 in overtime during the second round, before falling 81–69 to No. 1 Indiana in the Elite Eight; this marked the furthest advancement for any MAC team in tournament history up to that point.[16][17] Heath's success earned him the MAC Coach of the Year award, along with national recognition as Rookie Coach of the Year by CBSSportsline.com and CollegeInsider.com, solidifying his reputation for orchestrating upsets with a disciplined, team-oriented style honed during his assistant tenure at Michigan State.[18] In March 2002, just one year into his contract, Heath departed Kent State to become head coach at Arkansas, a move that highlighted the rapid ascent enabled by the Flashes' improbable postseason surge.[19] To commemorate the 20th anniversary of that Elite Eight run, Kent State honored Heath during a February 2022 home game against Buffalo, where the program acknowledged the enduring legacy of the 2001–02 team's achievements.[20]Arkansas head coach
Stan Heath was hired as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team on March 28, 2002, succeeding Nolan Richardson following the latter's dismissal amid a program transition.[21] His appointment came after a standout first season at Kent State, where he led the Golden Flashes to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, marking a significant leap from the Mid-American Conference to the competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC).[22] Heath inherited a Razorbacks squad that had posted a 14-15 record the prior year, ending a streak of 15 consecutive postseason appearances, and faced immediate pressure to restore the program's national prominence in a talent-rich league.[23] Over five seasons, Heath's teams compiled an overall record of 82-71, with a 31-49 mark in SEC play, showing gradual improvement after early struggles.[24] The 2002–03 campaign ended 9–19 (4–12 SEC), the program's worst winning percentage since the 1950s, as Heath integrated new players into a roster disrupted by Richardson's exit.[25] The following year, 2003–04, resulted in a 12–16 record (4–12 SEC), with the team finishing sixth in the SEC West amid ongoing adjustment to Heath's up-tempo style. Progress accelerated in 2004–05 with an 18–12 mark (8–8 SEC), tying for second in the West, though Arkansas declined an NIT invitation due to player fatigue after a late-season push.[26] The 2005–06 season marked a breakthrough at 22–10 (8–8 SEC), tying for third in the division and securing the program's first NCAA bid under Heath, despite a first-round upset loss to Bucknell (59–55).[27] Heath capped his tenure in 2006–07 with a 21–14 record (7–9 SEC), third in the West, and another NCAA appearance, falling in the first round to USC (77–60).[28] Heath's key achievements included guiding Arkansas to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2006 and 2007, the first such streak since 2001, while achieving 20-plus wins in each of those final two seasons.[29] His recruiting efforts bolstered the roster, notably landing in-state guard Ronnie Brewer in the 2002 class, who became an honorable mention All-American in 2006 with 18.4 points per game before entering the NBA Draft.[30] Heath also secured junior college transfer Sonny Weems in 2004, a versatile forward who averaged 12.1 points as a senior in 2008 and went on to a nine-year NBA career.[31] Despite these gains, Heath faced substantial challenges transitioning from the less demanding MAC to the SEC's intense competition and recruiting landscape, where high expectations lingered from Richardson's 1994 national title.[32] The program's sub-.500 SEC records fueled fan dissatisfaction and declining attendance, exacerbating pressure in a market accustomed to elite success. On March 26, 2007, athletic director Frank Broyles announced Heath's firing after the latest first-round NCAA exit, citing the need for renewed energy amid a 31-49 conference ledger over five years.[33]South Florida head coach
Stan Heath was hired as the head coach of the South Florida Bulls men's basketball team on April 3, 2007, shortly after his dismissal from Arkansas, signing a five-year contract worth up to $4.275 million including incentives.[34][35] His arrival marked an effort to revitalize a program that had not reached the NCAA Tournament since 1992 and had struggled in the competitive Big East Conference.[36] Heath's tenure began with early challenges as the Bulls posted losing records in his first two seasons: 12-19 overall (3-15 Big East) in 2007-08 and 9-22 (2-16 Big East) in 2008-09, reflecting a rebuilding phase amid roster turnover and adaptation to major-conference demands similar to those he navigated at Arkansas.[37] Progress emerged in 2009-10 with a 20-13 mark (7-11 Big East), earning the program's first postseason berth since 2005 via the National Invitation Tournament, where South Florida advanced to the second round before falling to Kansas State.[1] The 2010-11 season saw a regression to 10-23 (3-15 Big East), but Heath's third year culminated in a breakthrough 22-14 record (12-6 Big East) in 2011-12, securing a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament.[1] There, the Bulls defeated California 65-54 in the first round before a 58-44 second-round loss to Temple, marking the first NCAA appearance in 20 years.[38][39] The momentum faded in the final seasons, with 12-19 (3-15 Big East) in 2012-13 and 12-20 (6-12 American Athletic Conference) in 2013-14, as the program transitioned to the AAC amid heightened expectations for consistent success.[1] Among Heath's key accomplishments were two 20-win seasons—the 2009-10 and 2011-12 campaigns—which tied for the second-most in program history at the time—and the recruitment of standout point guard Anthony Collins, a 2011 signee who became a key leader, earning All-Big East honors in 2012 and anchoring the backcourt during the NCAA run.[1][40] Collins averaged 12.5 points and 6.6 assists as a junior in 2011-12, facilitating the team's defensive-minded style that held opponents to 63.8 points per game.[41] Heath was fired on March 14, 2014, following the 2013-14 season, concluding his seven-year stint with an overall record of 97-130 (36-90 conference).[38] The decision came amid the program's shift to the AAC and pressure to elevate performance in a revamped conference landscape, despite earlier extensions in 2010 and 2012 that had run through 2017-18.[42] During his time, Heath contributed to infrastructural advancements, including the $35.6 million renovation of the Yuengling Center (formerly Sun Dome) completed in 2012, which added modern seating, club levels, and enhanced fan amenities to boost recruiting and game-day experience.[43] Additionally, the men's basketball team's Academic Progress Rate (APR) improved under his leadership, ranking among the nation's top performers by 2011 and supporting higher graduation rates compared to the student body average.[44][45]Later assistant positions
Following his dismissal from the head coaching position at South Florida in March 2014, Heath took a year away from on-court coaching duties, serving as a college basketball analyst for ESPN during the 2014–15 season.[38][46] This period allowed him to recharge after consecutive firings from Arkansas in 2007 and South Florida, while maintaining connections in the coaching community.[46] In June 2015, Heath reunited with Jim Christian, his former assistant at Kent State, when he was hired as an assistant coach at Boston College.[47] He served in this role for three seasons, through the 2016–17 campaign, contributing his extensive head coaching background from programs like Kent State and Arkansas.[2] His primary responsibilities included emphasizing defensive strategies and supporting broader program development under Christian.[46] During Heath's tenure, the Eagles compiled records of 7–25 in 2015–16 (0–18 in ACC play) and 9–23 in 2016–17 (2–16 in ACC play), finishing last in the conference both years and gaining exposure to the intense ACC competition.[48][49] Heath departed after the 2016–17 season to pursue new opportunities, reflecting on the stint as a valuable recharge that honed his mentorship skills and reignited his passion for coaching.[50][46]Lakeland Magic head coach
In August 2017, Stan Heath was hired as the inaugural head coach of the Lakeland Magic, the NBA G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic.[51] During the 2017–18 season, Heath led the Lakeland Magic to a 28–22 regular season record, securing first place in the Southeast Division and advancing to the conference finals, where they fell to the Raptors 905.[52] In 2018–19, the team improved to 32–18 in the regular season, again topping the Southeast Division and reaching the G League Finals, though they lost to the Delaware Blue Coats.[53] The 2019–20 season was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending with a 25–17 regular season mark and no postseason play.[54] Heath's tenure culminated in the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, where the Lakeland Magic posted a 9–6 regular season record in the Disney bubble format.[55] The team then went 3–0 in the playoffs, defeating the Erie BayHawks, Capital City Go-Go, and Delaware Blue Coats in single-game elimination rounds to claim the G League championship.[56] For his leadership in guiding Lakeland to the title while leading the league in defensive rating (101.0) and points allowed per game (101.5), Heath was named the 2020–21 NBA G League Coach of the Year.[57] Over four seasons, Heath compiled a 94–63 regular season record with the Lakeland Magic, reaching the playoffs each year and emphasizing player development for NBA opportunities.[57] Notable examples include forward Melvin Frazier Jr., whom Heath coached during his G League stints and praised for on- and off-court growth.[58] In April 2021, shortly after the championship, Heath departed to become head coach at Eastern Michigan University.[59]Eastern Michigan head coach
On April 12, 2021, Eastern Michigan University hired Stan Heath as its 30th head men's basketball coach, marking his return to his alma mater on a five-year contract.[60][61][62] Heath's tenure began with challenging seasons as the program worked to rebuild. In 2021–22, the Eagles finished 10–21 overall and 5–15 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. The 2022–23 campaign saw further struggles, ending at 8–23 overall and 5–13 in the MAC. Progress emerged in 2023–24 with a 13–18 record and 6–12 MAC mark, followed by a balanced 2024–25 season of 16–16 overall, 9–9 in conference play, and a sixth-place finish. Through four seasons, Heath compiled a 47–78 record at EMU.[63][64][2][65]| Season | Overall Record | MAC Record | Conference Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 10–21 | 5–15 | 11th |
| 2022–23 | 8–23 | 5–13 | 9th |
| 2023–24 | 13–18 | 6–12 | — |
| 2024–25 | 16–16 | 9–9 | 6th |
Achievements and legacy
NCAA Tournament performances
Heath's first NCAA Tournament appearance as a head coach came in 2002 with Kent State, where the 10th-seeded Golden Flashes made a memorable run to the Elite Eight in the South Region. In the first round, Kent State defeated the 7th-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys 69-61 in Greenville, South Carolina.[16] The Golden Flashes followed with a 71-58 upset victory over the 2nd-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round. Advancing to the Sweet 16, Kent State edged the 3rd-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers 78-73 in overtime at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.[71] Their tournament run ended in the Elite Eight with an 81-69 loss to the 5th-seeded Indiana Hoosiers.[72] During his tenure at Arkansas, Heath led the Razorbacks to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, though both ended in first-round exits. In 2006, as an 8th seed in the Oklahoma City subregional, Arkansas fell to the 9th-seeded Bucknell Bison 59-55, a notable upset by the Patriot League champions.[73] The following year, the 12th-seeded Razorbacks lost their first-round matchup to the 5th-seeded USC Trojans 77-60 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[74] Heath returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2012 as head coach at South Florida, marking the program's first appearance in 20 years. The 12th-seeded Bulls first advanced by defeating the 12th-seeded California Golden Bears 65-54 in the First Four at the University of Dayton Arena.[75] In the first round of the Midwest Region, South Florida upset the 5th-seeded Temple Owls 58-44 in Nashville, Tennessee, holding the Owls to their lowest scoring output of the season.[76] The Bulls' run concluded in the second round with a 62-56 loss to the 13th-seeded Ohio Bobcats.[77] Across his four NCAA Tournament appearances, Heath compiled a 5-4 record, highlighted by Kent State's Elite Eight finish but limited by early exits in subsequent years.[1]| Year | Team | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kent State | #10 | First Round | #7 Oklahoma State | W | 69–61 |
| 2002 | Kent State | #10 | Second Round | #2 Alabama | W | 71–58 |
| 2002 | Kent State | #10 | Sweet 16 | #3 Pittsburgh | W | 78–73 (OT) |
| 2002 | Kent State | #10 | Elite Eight | #5 Indiana | L | 69–81 |
| 2006 | Arkansas | #8 | First Round | #9 Bucknell | L | 55–59 |
| 2007 | Arkansas | #12 | First Round | #5 USC | L | 60–77 |
| 2012 | South Florida | #12 | First Four | #12 California | W | 65–54 |
| 2012 | South Florida | #12 | First Round | #5 Temple | W | 58–44 |
| 2012 | South Florida | #12 | Second Round | #13 Ohio | L | 56–62 |
Awards and honors
Heath earned the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year award in 2002 for guiding Kent State to a program-record 30 wins and the league's regular-season and tournament titles in his debut season as a collegiate head coach.[23] That same year, he received national acclaim as the CBSSportsline.com National Rookie Coach of the Year and the CollegeInsider.com National Rookie Coach of the Year, recognizing his rapid success with an underdog program.[78] During his tenure at South Florida, Heath was named the Big East Coach of the Year in 2012 after leading the Bulls to a school-record 22 victories, including 12 in conference play, and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in two decades.[3] In the NBA G League, Heath was selected as the 2020-21 Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year while heading the Lakeland Magic, a role in which he also secured the league championship as the franchise's inaugural head coach.[79] His efforts with Lakeland contributed to multiple 20-win seasons, highlighting his ability to build competitive teams in professional development basketball.[2] Heath's high school achievements were later honored with his 2021 induction into the Detroit Catholic Central Athletic Hall of Fame, where he had been an all-state guard during his playing days in the early 1980s.[4]Overall coaching record
Stan Heath's head coaching career spans 18 seasons at the NCAA Division I level and 4 seasons in the NBA G League, compiling a total record of 351–350 (.501) as of the end of the 2024–25 season.[1][79] At the college level, Heath's record stands at 257–287 (.472) over his 18 seasons. His tenure breakdowns are as follows: Kent State (2001–02) 30–6, Arkansas (2002–07) 82–71, South Florida (2007–14) 97–130, and Eastern Michigan (2021–25) 48–80.[1] In conference play, he recorded 17–1 in the Mid-American Conference at Kent State, 31–49 in the Southeastern Conference at Arkansas, 31–77 in the Big East at South Florida (2007–13), 25–49 in the MAC at Eastern Michigan, and 3–15 in the American Athletic Conference at South Florida (2013–14).[1] In the NBA G League, Heath coached the Lakeland Magic from 2017 to 2021, achieving a 94–63 (.599) regular-season record, highlighted by the 2021 championship in the pandemic-shortened season.[79] Key milestones include reaching his 250th career win on January 25, 2025, during Eastern Michigan's 2024–25 season. Heath maintained no losing seasons through his time at Kent State and the early years at Arkansas, with his first sub-.500 campaign occurring in the 2002–03 season at Arkansas.[66][1]| Category | Record | Winning Pct. | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Overall | 257–287 | .472 | 18 |
| G League Overall | 94–63 | .599 | 4 |
| Total Head Coaching | 351–350 | .501 | 22 |