Athletic Director
Duane Sheldon
Athletic Director / Head Men's Basketball Coach
(419) 448-2006
dsheldon@heidelberg.edu
Duane Sheldon, who has served as the interim director of athletics at Heidelberg College since July 2006, was appointed the new director of athletics on February 8, 2008.
“Duane has a solid vision about what he intends to accomplish as Heidelberg's next athletic director and I am quite confident that, together with the entire athletic staff, they will be tremendously successful in providing our students and the campus community with an athletic program of which we can all be very proud,” stated Jim Troha, Vice-President of Student Affairs.
As director of athletics, Sheldon will oversee 20 varsity sports that compete in the NCAA Division III’s Ohio Athletic Conference. He will also supervise intramural and recreational programs.
“It will be an honor and a privilege to serve as the director of athletics at an institution like Heidelberg,” said Sheldon. “Heidelberg has a great tradition and a strong reputation in a tough conference and throughout the country. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve in an interim role and look forward to continuing to build the athletic department not only within the campus community, but beyond.”
As interim AD, Sheldon has worked with Interim Associate AD Matt Palm to implement the popular ’Berg Pride program across campus. Additionally, he has been instrumental in improving game management procedures, and has stressed the importance of welcoming and accommodating visiting teams. He has overseen aesthetic changes to Seiberling Gymnasium and has worked successfully with athletic alumni to support the H-Association and the college’s student-athletes.
Sheldon feels that the coaching staff is the reason for his success as interim athletic director, and that the staff will provide a solid foundation for continued achievement in athletics. “What makes its exciting to serve in this capacity is the great coaching staff that we have. All our coaches are hard working and energetic, which makes my duties as athletic director run at a smooth and constant pace.”
Sheldon came to Heidelberg in August 2002 as the head men’s basketball coach, after having served as an assistant coach at nationally ranked Baldwin-Wallace College. Under his leadership, the team has become a force in the Ohio Athletic Conference, winning the program’s first tournament title in 2008. In 2008, Heidelberg made its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, the Student Princes posted a 23-6 overall record, which stands second all-time in single season wins. Within its 23-6 overall record was a 20-5 regular season mark, which ties for the best regular season record with the 1983-84 team.
As a testament to his commitment to academics as well as athletics, Sheldon’s team has achieved an average GPA of 3.2, and every senior in his program has graduated.
Sheldon earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Baldwin-Wallace in 1993, where he was an academic all-conference basketball player for the Yellow Jackets. He went on to earn his master’s degree in education with a sports administration concentration from Ashland University in 2000.
Prior to his stint as assistant coach at Baldwin-Wallace, Sheldon served as a teacher and department head of health and physical education at Midpark High School. While at Midpark he coached the boy’s varsity basketball team to a Pioneer Conference championship, a sectional championship and a No. 8 ranking in the state, while breaking 82 school records along the way.
Originally from Strongsville, Ohio, Sheldon and wife, Laura, have three children, Jacy (7), Ajay (5) and Emmy (3 months).