Eric Hehman Named Sixth Head Football Coach in Greenville College History
Published: April 13, 2021
GREENVILLE, Ill. - When the Greenville College football team kicks off their 2005 season at Trinity International University on Saturday, Sept. 10, they will do so under the guidance of former TIU assistant head coach Eric Hehman. Hehman has been named the sixth head football coach in the Greenville football program's 18-year history. He succeeds Scotty Kessler, who resigned effective Friday, Dec. 31, after leading the Panthers over the previous three seasons.Hehman, 32, comes to Greenville after a six-year stint at Trinity International in Deerfield, Ill., where he spent the 2004 season as assistant head coach, operations coordinator, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. During his tenure at TIU, Hehman also served as an offensive line coach and adjunct professor in the school of human performance and wellness."We are extremely pleased about Eric Hehman coming to GC," said Doug Faulkner, director of athletics. "We believe Eric brings solid experience from two great programs at Trinity International and Taylor University. He has a sound philosophy combined with strong vision to build upon the solid foundation laid by Scotty Kessler over the last three years.""Coach Hehman's experience on both sides of the ball brings a new strength that will help our on-field production, and his knowledge and practice of integrating faith makes Eric a great fit for a Christian liberal arts college."In 2004, Trinity International, which completed the regular season with an 8-2 record, qualified for the NAIA national playoffs. It was the second time Hehman coached in the national playoffs after serving as an offensive line coach for Taylor in 1998."I am grateful for the foundation that Coach Scotty Kessler has built and look forward carrying on the work of glorifying God through the game of football," said Hehman. "The Greenville football program provides an excellent opportunity for my wife, Liz, and I to live out our personal mission to help young people grow in all areas of their lives. We want to strive to be champions on and off the field."Hehman was named the 2004 Mid-States Football Association Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year after Trinity International's offense ranked tenth in the NAIA in total offense with 390 yards per game. TIU was the Mid-States Football Association Midwest co-champion in 2003.In 2001, the Trinity International rushing offense ranked fourth in the NAIA with 288 yards per game. The 2000 Trinity International unit finished eighth in the NAIA in rushing at 236 yards per game.Hehman entered coaching in 1995 at Taylor where he served as defensive line coach for three years and offensive line coach for one year. During this time, Taylor won a Mid-States Football Association Midwest title in addition to their NAIA national playoff berth.Hehman, originally of Columbus, Ind., is a 1994 graduate of Taylor where he earned a bachelor of science in physical education and played defensive line on its football team for four years. He later completed a master of arts in sports administration at Ball State University in 1999.Hehman and his wife will relocate to Greenville in January. Eric begins as head football coach effective Monday, Jan. 3, 2005.Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1300 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.
