Marian University Ind.

BIO

In 2022-2023, Scott Heady serves as the head coach of the Marian men's basketball team, entering his sixth season on the sidelines.

Scott Heady was hired as men’s basketball coach at Marian University February 16, 2017.  He became the ninth coach in the 64-year MU basketball history.  “I am very fortunate and excited to be the head men’s basketball coach at Marian University," Heady said. "Marian has an excellent academic reputation and athletic tradition, and offers all we need to compete for national championships.”

Heady comes to MU as one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Indiana over the past 22 years. Marian University Athletic Director Steve Downing on Heady, “Scott Heady’s resume speaks for itself, and we are extremely excited to have him at Marian University.  Scott is well-connected in the state of Indiana and we believe can help our men’s basketball program reach its full potential.”

In his sixth year as the head coach of Marian in 2022-23, Heady led the Knights back to the NAIA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season, extending the program record. Marian went 21-10 overall and 10-8 in the Crossroads League, finishing fourth in the regular season and third in the tournament. The Knights fell in the NAIA Opening Round, losing their first game of the national tournament. Throughout the season Marian gained four NAIA Scholar Athletes in Luke Heady, Maximus Gizzi, Rowen Farrell, and Gavin Foe, while earning four All-Crossroads League Honors. Taeshon Cherry led the all-conference honors by being named to the first team, while Hayden Langkabel and Christian Harvey, who was also an all-defensive team honoree, were named to the second team. On the year, the Knights ranked top-10 in Net-Efficiency and Offensive Efficiency. Marian scored 82.5 points per game in Heady's system while shooting 47 percent from the field.

In his fifth year on the sidelines in 2021-2022, Heady continued to find success guiding Marian to the NAIA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. The Knights posted a 26-6 overall record and went 14-4 in the Crossroads League, finishing as the runner-up in both the tournament and regular season. The Knights reached the NAIA Opening Round and finished their season in the Round of 32. Marian had five Crossroads League honorees under Heady in 2021-22, with Christian Stewart and Malek Edmonds earning First Team honors, Jacob Wiley earning Second Team, and Christian Harvey earning Honorable Mention. Tyrie Johnson earned All-CL Defensive Team honors under Heady, and helped anchor a defense that ranked Top-10 in the NAIA in points allowed, and ranked No. 4 in the NAIA in Net-Efficiency. Stewart ended the honor cycle earning NAIA Third Team All-American honors, marking the fifth year in a row Heady claimed at least one honoree. Marian scored 79.5 points per game and shot .498 from the field under Heady, and held opponents to .328 from three. 

In his fourth year at the helm, Heady continued his storied successes at Marian, reaching the NAIA National Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and taking home his first Crossroads League Tournament Championship as a head coach. Marian closed the 2020-21 campaign at 23-5 overall and 12-4 in the Crossorads League to finished second in the conference. Heady led the Knights to an NAIA Opening Round come-from-behind 65-58 victory over Indiana Tech to clinch his fourth Round of 16 appearance. During another dominating season in the Crossroads League, Heady guided senior Cameron Wolter to his second All-American award, earning second-team honors after domineering performances on offense throughout the season. Wolter also secured his second First-Team All-Crossroads League honor under Heady's coaching. Heady also guided Christian Stewart to his first All-Crossroads League First-Team honor as the guard led the Knights from behind the three-point mark. On top of offense, Heady showed how well-rounded the Knights were in the Nation as Marian finished 15th in the NAIA in scoring defense per game, third in free-throw percentage, 11th in turnover margin, and 12th in Net Efficiency. The Knights finished the campaign ranked 13th in the NAIA. Heady now heads into his fifth season as head coach of the Knights at 98-32 overall and 49-21 in Crossroads League action.

Heady continued to climb the ranks at Marian in his third season in 2019-20, reaching the NAIA Tournament for a third consecutive season while keeping the Knights in the top-10 for the majority of the season. Marian went 25-7 overall and 14-4 in the Crossroads League, finishing second in the regular season, and were poised for a deep run in the NAIA Tournament before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic after the first round. Cameron Wolter had a dominant season as the primary scorer in Heady's offense, as he was named First Team All-Crossroads League and Third Team NAIA All-American. Heady also guided Christian Harvey to First Team All-Crossroads League honors, while Christian Stewart was named to the Second Team All-Crossroads League. Harvey was also named to the Crossroads League Freshman Team and was the Newcomer of the Year. Heady's Knights were ranked in several categories in the NAIA, including No. 1 in 3-pt field goal percentage, as well as No. 3 in field goal percentage and defensive rebounds per game. 

After a program-changing first season at Marian, Heady led the Knights to even greater heights in 2018-19. Marian finished the season with a program record 28 wins and advanced to the program's first ever NAIA Tournament Fab Four. The Knights defeated seven ranked opponents and finished third in the Crossroads League. Wes Stowers and Reggie Kissoonlal were named NAIA All-Americans at season's end and the two were joined by TJ Henderson on the All-Crossroads League teams. Heady's Knights ranked in the top 50 in the nation in 18 different categories, including second in total rebound defense, scoring margin, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

In his first year at MU, Heady led the Knights to one of the most successful seasons in program history.  Despite having one of the youngest teams in the crossroads League and being picked in pre-season to finish eighth in the conference, Marian finished the regular season with 20 wins, 10-8 record and fourth place finish in Crossroads League, and 24^th final regular season NAIA national ranking.  The Knights made their first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 2011 as one of 32 teams to compete for the 2018 NAIA National Championship in Sioux Falls SD.  MU defeated defending national champion and 9th-ranked Union College KY, 79-59 to reach the sweet 16.  Marian followed that with a 90-74 win over #6 ranked Indiana Tech to advance to the Elite 8, before falling to third-ranked College of Idaho.  The Knights finished the season 22-12, tied for the second most wins and reached the Elite 8 for only the second time in MU program history.  The Knights used their high-powered offense averaging 86.9 points, shot .400 from 3pt range, hit .791 from the free throw line, and committed just 10.2 turnovers per game.  Junior guard Wes Stowers was selected First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-American.  Junior center Reggie Kissoonlal was selected Second Team All-Conference and Defensive Player of the Year.  Freshman guard Sterling Brown was selected First Team All-Freshman.  Academic achievement is a top priority in Heady’s program at MU as all three seniors on the roster received their degree in May.

Prior to coaching at MU, Heady spent the previous seven seasons as head coach at Carmel HS where he led the Greyhounds to one of the most impressive runs in Indiana HS Basketball history, including back-to-back 4A state championships in 2012 and 2013.  Heady’s teams compiled a record of 141-38 (.788) and averaged 20 wins a season, winning 5 Sectionals, 2 Regionals, 2 Semi-States, 2 State Championships and 4 Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference titles.  The Greyhounds strength of schedule was ranked in the top 5 in Indiana all 7 seasons and Carmel was ranked in the top 25 national polls in 3 seasons during Heady’s tenure.  

Coach Heady is no stranger to the collegiate game as he spent two seasons as Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Anderson University from 2008-2010.  Heady made an immediately impact on the recruiting front, recruiting 3 players to Anderson that went on to achieve All-HCAC honors, including Phil Hogan, who earned NCAA D3 All-American.  During his time with the Ravens, Heady helped AU to a Heartland Conference Championship in 2010 and an NCAA Tournament appearance the same year.  Anderson was 38-18 during his two seasons on staff and ranked Top 25 nationally both years.

Heady spent 13 seasons (1995-2008) as head coach at Warren Central HS compiling a record of 191-103, setting school records for most wins, highest win percentage, and consecutive winning seasons.  The Warriors were Marian County Tournament Champions in 99-00 for the first time since 1970, Sectional and Regional Champions, advancing to the Elite 8 in 2000.  Heady also led Warren to MIC Conference Championships in 2000 and 2007.        

Heady started his head coaching career at Connersville HS as the youngest 4A head coach in Indiana.  His teams compiled a 25-23 record in two seasons and both years were Sectional champions and Regional finalists.  

Coach Heady’s career has garnered plenty of recognition, including being named the Indianapolis Star Coach of the Year three times, MIC Conference Coach of the Year 5 times, Marion County Coach of the year two times, and was named Indiana Representative for National Coach of the Year in 2012.  Coach Heady was named Indiana Jr All Star Coach in 2011 and Indiana All Star Coach in 2013.  Heady helped lead Indiana to a sweep of Kentucky, including a 116-60 win at Freedom Hall in Louisville, the widest margin a victory in the 88-year history of the series.  In 2006, Scott was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team. 

A graduate of Indiana Central University (University of Indianapolis), Scott lettered three years on basketball scholarship for the Greyhounds and played for former Purdue All-American and Indiana Pacer legend Billy Keller.  Scott was the Greyhounds Team Captain during his final two seasons, led the team in FT% (.831) and helped the Greyhounds to a 16-11 record his senior season.  Before attending Indiana Central, Heady spent one year at Limestone College (SC), helping the Saints to a 25-7 record, #6 NAIA national ranking and second round of the NAIA Division I National Tournament.            

Scott played his high school basketball at Shenandoah HS, leading the Raiders to a 3-year record of 58-14, including a trip to the 1981 IHSAA State Finals.  Shenandoah was the second smallest school since historic Milan to reach the state finals in the one-class system.  Scott averaged 20.4 points and 8.5 assists leading the Raiders to a 21-6 record his senior season. Heady set school records for season/career points and assists and was named to the AP and UPI All-State Teams.  Scott was coached by his father, Bob Heady, a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.   

Coach Heady involves his teams on campus and in the community with numerous volunteer organization and community service projects that include Riley Children’s Hospital, Boys and Girls Club, Gleaners Food Bank, MU College Mentors, Indy Do Day, and Knights Called to Serve.  Heady has also involved his teams in local charity fundraising activities the past several years raising funds to benefit Coaches vs Cancer, American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Riley Children’s Hospital. 

Coach Heady’s basketball camps have attracted over 400 campers each summer for the past 15 years.  Camps will be held at Marian University during the summer months and include Day Camp, Overnight Camp, Position Camp, Shooting and Offensive Skills Camp, and High School/Middle School Shootouts.  Heady has been a guest speaker/lecturer during his coaching career at over 40 basketball clinics and camps throughout country.  Coach Heady and MU host The Rising Coaches Clinic each year at Marian University, bringing together some of the best young and aspiring college basketball coaches.   

Scott and his wife Amy reside in Carmel and are proud parents of Clayton, Sam and Luke.

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