Brian Heck joins Margaretta girls basketball staff

CASTALIA — Brian Heck took two phone calls in late March that changed his life. The first was from a Perkins High School administrator requesting a meeting with the girls basketball coach. Heck did not have a good feeling about the exchange. His phone rang a short time later, though. It was Ray Neill, his father-in-law, who was interested in the Margaretta girls basketball coaching job. Neill would be named head coach of the Polar Bears a few weeks later. Heck, meanwhile, was told by Perkins on March 31 that his supplemental contract to coach the Pirates' girls team would be not renewed because of what administrators called a hazing incident earlier in the season. Heck resigned four days later, setting off an emotional firestorm within the Perkins basketball community. Many parents and players threw vocal support behind Heck before the school board accepted his resignation. The coach soon joined Neill's staff at Margaretta and said this week that "being in the gym is the best thing for me." "It was a matter of do I sit around and sulk and take a year off and re-evaluate myself as a head coach or get back in," Heck said. "The reason I got into this was to be able to positively affect young people." Heck said those two phone calls were "suppose to happen for a reason." "I don't think the timing of everything was coincidental," he said. "We're talking within a half hour." Heck spent five successful seasons at Perkins, going 81-44 with two district final appearances. The Pirates tied Bellevue for the SBC Lake Division title last season. Now he's on Margaretta's bench. "It's different," he said. "I'm getting used to it." Plenty of support Heck says he's happy in his new role and was humbled by calls of support he received from other coaches, administrators and parents in the aftermath of his ugly divorce from Perkins. "It felt good, of course, because in that situation there were questions because the school labeled it how they did, which is a death sentence for coaches," Heck said of the hazing allegation. "How am I perceived? I still want to coach. A lot of schools reached out, it was good. It validates what I did at that school and did it well. To see that support from other schools, I needed that. "I'm at a school now that has an administration that supports its staff and does what it can to make coaches and players successful." Heck will be coaching with some familiar faces on a Margaretta staff that has a Perkins flavor. Heck was an assistant for nine seasons under Neill during Neill's successful run at Perkins. Dan Hedberg, who coached with Neill at Perkins and has spent several seasons at Margaretta, will be Neill's other varsity assistant. Matt Smith, Perkins' former athletic director, will be the junior varsity head coach. Maddy Mullins, Perkins' former strength coach who now works at Margaretta, with be Smith's assistant. Courtney Fitzgerald will be the freshman coach. "This is Ray's program. My job is to help him develop it how he wants," Heck said. "We've worked together for years. We've hugged each other, cried with each other and fought each other. There's a mutual respect. "Obviously the two of us have had a lot of success together and work well philosophically. It's an easy fit with that staff. Matt Smith hired me as a head coach. Both of us had a vision for that program and it was going exactly how we wanted it to go." Heck's departure from Perkins was followed by Eric Kochendoerfer's jump from Margaretta girls coach to Perkins boys coach, which opened the door for Neill. Neill excited about hire Neill, who also coaches baseball at Margaretta, did not hesitate to join forces with Heck. "He's an outstanding basketball coach; he proved that at Perkins," Neill said. "He's my son-in-law and he was looking for a job. Both with him and his daughter, as a head coach, a father-in-law and a grandfather, I'm excited about it all." Heck's daughter, Raegan, was an honorable mention SBC Lake Division selection as a freshman. The versatile point forward has recently returned to action after suffering a serious concussion late last season. Margaretta's team played in a shootout at Gannon University in Erie, Pa., on Thursday after playing in the prestigious Best of Maryland event last weekend. Heck is looking to establish residency in the Margaretta district so Raegan can play the entire 2022-23 season with the Polar Bears. If residency is not established, she'll be eligible for only the first half of the coming season, per OHSAA rules. "If we can make that happen, we'll make that happen," Heck said about moving. Margaretta athletic director Drew Grahl supported Neill's pick of Heck. "Whenever you can bring a former head coach to your staff, it's a benefit," Grahl said. "We're looking forward to what the future holds for this staff and team." Heck said Grahl offered his support. "He reached out to me with 110% support. He wanted me to be part of the program," Heck said. "I just never thought I'd be wearing green — ever." Neill is excited to see what his team will do this winter. And he's confident a coaching staff that includes Heck will be up to the challenge. "It's been good. (Heck) getting back on a bench with myself and Dan Hedberg, it's like getting the band back together," Neill said. 'Still love my girls' Heck, who works as a buyer at JAM Industrial Supply in Sandusky, was replaced at Perkins by former Bellevue coach Ryan Orshoski. "I still love my girls. I still get emotional about them and I'm rooting for Ryan," Heck said about the Pirates. "It's still tough. We developed together. But I'm in special place and enjoy it. The group I'm with now is great. They love to compete and play ball and that's what I love, too." Margaretta's challenging 2022-23 schedule includes a trip to Perkins on Dec. 22. "That will be really tough," Heck said. The team Margaretta will take into that game will be led by a strong group of returners, led by Kylie Leibacher. Other key players are Eden Palomo, Lilly Edwards, Jaelle Keller and Jenny Patrick. "Obviously I want to compete and they're ready to win now," Heck said. "The culture is great and the administration is top notch." One area in which Heck might exert some influence: Neill's wardrobe. Heck always wears sharp suits to games while Neill is more casual. "Ray's birthday is in late October. I might have to spend a little money to get him a wardrobe," Heck said. "They might be the $35 online suits but we'll start somewhere with Ray."