E-mail Coach HeinitzJim Heinitz completed his 17th season as the Augustana Vikings' head football coach in 2004. He is the longest-serving head coach in Augustana's history, surpassing the legendary "Lefty" Olson in 2002. In addition, in 2003 he became the school’s all-time winningest coach, again surpassing Olson. Heinitz’s career record 82-102-1.
Heinitz was named the Vikings’ head coach late in 1984 and served for eight years. He resigned after the 1992 season to enter private business and then returned to Augustana in December of 1995 to resume his coaching career.
Coach Heinitz came to Augustana in 1982 as the offensive line coach. He was named head coach in November of 1984 and after patiently reconstructing the program, led the Vikings to consecutive NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 1988 and 1989.
Heinitz was named the North Central Conference Coach of the Year in 1988 and again in 1992. He was also selected as the Kodak College Coach of the Year in Region Four in those same years. The South Dakota Sportswriters Association named him Men's College Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992.
Heintz has coached five players who have gone on to play professional football in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League: Heath Rylance, Troy Westwood, Corbin Lacina, Bryan Schwartz and Kevin Kaesviharn. Also, numerous of his players have played for the Sioux Falls Storm of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). In 2004, six former Vikings were on the Storm roster that won the NIFL Pacific Conference title and hosted the NIFL Indoor Bowl IV.
In addition to his coaching duties at Augustana, he was also involved in fundraising for the college.
Heinitz continues to be actively involved in the community. He served seven years as a member of the Brandon Valley School Board, and four years with the Board of Directors of the South Dakota High School Activities Association.
For the past 11 years, Heinitz has been a featured speaker at Boys State in Aberdeen, S.D. He is a past member of the church council at Brandon Lutheran in Brandon, S.D., and is a past president. He is currently serving as president of the South Dakota chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. An engaging speaker, Heinitz has been featured at events ranging from athletic award banquets to church gatherings.
A 1972 graduate of South Dakota State University, Heinitz was an All-North Central Conference linebacker for the Jackrabbits. He has previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Washington High School, Sioux Falls Lincoln High School and was head football coach at Rapid City Stevens High School prior to joining the Augustana staff.
Jim and his wife Becky have three children, Stacy Scholten, Adam and Heather, along with four grandchildren, Zachary, Thomas and Samuel Scholten and Ella Heinitz. Stacy's husband, Kelly, was a standout lineman for the Vikings from 1992-1996. Adam is married to former Augustana basketball All-American, Sandra Zwach and is a member of the admissions staff at Augustana. Adam was a starting tight end for the Augie Vikings during his college career. Heather is attending college and working in Sioux Falls.
