Knox College Prairie Fire

Charles Timothy Heimann came to Knox College in 1966 as an 18-year-old, 145-pound student athlete. Many years and a few pounds later, his whistle still echoes through the halls of Memorial Gymnasium. Today, Coach Heimann holds the record for most career wins in baseball and is closing in on the record for career wins in basketball. In his career at Knox, he has coached basketball, baseball, football and tennis and has been a student athlete, a coach and the parent of three Knox athletes.
           
Tim chose Knox so he could continue playing the sports he loved while getting an education. During his senior year at Knox, he was named Most Valuable Baseball Player and earned All-Midwest Conference honors for baseball. In 1970, he graduated from Knox with a bachelor’s degree and a fiancé, fellow Knox grad Catherine Kucik (’70). The newlyweds decided to take up permanent residence in their college town when Tim accepted a position with the Knox Admissions Office.  “Little did we know that 34 years and 4 kids later we’d still be at Knox,” said Cathy.
           


  In 1973, Tim joined the Knox athletics department as the assistant men’s basketball coach.  In 1977, he added coaching football and baseball. Tim was assistant football coach for 24 years.  Receiver Sam LeDeaux (’98), looking back over his football experience said, “Not just in football, but also seeing you on campus . . . you were always good for a smile and a feel good conversation . . . the list goes on and on.”
           
From 1977- 1988, Tim coached the Knox baseball team. In 1986, his baseball team won the Midwest Conference Championships.  That year, Coach Heimann’s team set the Knox record for most wins in a season (19). In baseball, Heimann’s teams hold the record for most wins (128).
           
After becoming the Head Men’s Basketball Coach in 1984, Coach Heimann led his 1992-93 team to the Midwest Conference Championships – claiming the Southern Division title with a 17-5 record. This team went on a winning streak, winning its final 12 regular season games. Coach Heimann’s 1995-96 team earned a spot in the Midwest Conference playoffs and placed second in the MWC Southern Division. In 1997-98, Coach Heimann was named the Midwest Conference Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. Tim was the original and long-standing chairman of the MWC Men’s Basketball Coaches and a member of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Midwest Tournament Selection Committee.
           
In 2001, Coach Heimann expanded his experiences by accepting the head coach position for the women’s tennis team – adding a new sport and a new gender to his coaching repertoire. Later that year against Monmouth, he recorded his 200^th win as head men’s basketball coach and now stands a couple more basketball seasons away from the career wins record.