Meet Coach Heirman
shane heirman
A Passionate Leader on the Court
Shane Heirman began his college basketball career at The University of Tulsa, where he played point guard under the tutelage of Coach Doug Wojcik. He became known for his tireless work ethic, which resulted in earning a scholarship his senior season. From early on, Heirman knew his path would be to continue leading, mentoring, and developing players in the sport he loves most.
Heirman now has over ten years of coaching experience, from the elite high school ranks to the top of college basketball. Currently, Heirman is the head coach at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, where he set numerous school records and has the program ready to take the next step heading into the 2025-26 season. In his two seasons at the helm, his UIW teams have achieved a 3.3 cumulative GPA, compiled the most community service hours in UIW history, and maintained a perfect 100 APR%.
Before UIW, Heirman was associate head coach at Central Michigan, where he helped sign a top-75 recruiting class and developed several future high-major players. Prior to that, he was the youngest assistant coach in Big East history at DePaul, where he helped the program reach its first postseason in over a decade and recruited five future NBA players.
Heirman began his coaching career at La Lumiere School, where he went 82-7 and won a national championship in 2017, coaching future NBA stars like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jordan Poole.
Coach's Family values
While Coach Heirman is fully dedicated to building a winning basketball program, his greatest priority is his family. He believes it’s essential for his players to see him first and foremost as a husband and father, so they can understand the responsibilities and values they’ll one day carry into their own homes.
Shane emphasizes a holistic approach to player development, one that extends far beyond the court. To him, growth happens in the gym, in the classroom, and at home. The young men who play for him don’t just join a team, they join a family. Coach Heirman sees the relationship as a lifetime contract, not one that ends after four years, but that continues for life. His players know he’ll always be there for them.
That family atmosphere is alive and well at UIW. It’s not uncommon to see his young children at practice, running through drills, high-fiving players, and shooting on the mini hoop set up in the McDermott Center just for them. They are as much a part of the program as anyone, and their joyful presence reminds everyone what truly matters.
Shane and his wife, Claire, live in San Antonio with their daughter, Kennison (4), and son, Cade (2).
