Augustana University Athletics

Augustana football has a history of outstanding quarterbacks and Heath Rylance was among the best. The record-setting signal caller from Watertown also engineered one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in school history. A young Augustana football team took its lumps during the 1991 season, finishing with a 0-10 record after a handful of close losses. In 1992, the Vikings rebounded with an 8-3 record. Only a controversial decision by the NCAA Division II Playoff Selection Committee kept Augustana out of the playoffs. Heath has fond memories of that great season,"The entire season of 1992 was great. We had just come off one of the worst seasons in school history. To be a part of the team that turned around the next season was very rewarding."

Heath was a 2nd team All-NCC selection in 1991 and 1993 and a 1st team All-NCC selection in 1992 and 1994. In 1994 he was chosen the NCC most valuable offensive player. He set six career records in league play and still ranks high in total offense attempts, pass attempts, completions, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense, and total offense attempts. In four seasons he passed for 7,132 yards and 50 touchdowns. His many school records included a single-game total offense mark of 412 yards against Mankato State University.

Following his record-setting career at Augustana, Heath played in the Canadian Football League for five seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampede.