HEAD COACH HEATHER HURT (ROBBEN)

Heather Hurt (Robben) was promote to the fifth East Central University head women's basketball coach after her nine-year stint as assistant coach for the Tigers.

Hurt took charge of the program in late December of 2022 after former head coach, Matt Cole, stepped down to take the position as ECU Director of Athletics.

Throughout her time as interim head coach, Hurt led the Tigers to the No. 7 seed in the 2022-23 Great American Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament despite a tough beginning to the season.

The Tigers have excelled in the classroom, as three student-athletes received GAC honors for their performance during the 2022-23 season. The three honorees included an All-GAC Second Team Member, GAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and two GAC Elite Scholar Athletes. The women's basketball team has consistently held one of the highest cumulative GPA's among ECU athletic teams.

Hurt became a member of the Tiger family in 2014 and was the top assistant on the Tigers' staff for the last nine seasons.

Prior to becoming a leader on the coaching staff, Hurt made her mark on the court for Hutchinson Community College, Wichita State University, and Emporia State University.

During her two year-stint at Emporia State University, Hurt served as the graduate assistant coach where she helped the team to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and two Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament titles.

Hurt spent one season playing for the Hornets where she was an All-MIAA Second Team selection, helped ESU to the NCAA Central Regional Championship game, and was named to the 2012 All-Central Regional Tournament Team.

Before heading to ESU, Hurt spent a season at Wichita State University and spent her first two collegiate seasons at Hutchinson Community College. While playing for the Blue Dragons, she became the school's first two-time NJCAA All-American and helped the team to the NJCAA nationals. In 2020, she was honored by HCC by being named to their Athletics Hall of Fame.

Hurt earned a Master of Science degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation in May 2014 and a Bachelor of Science in Business (Marketing) in December 2012 from Emporia State.  She also earned an Associate in Arts from Hutchinson Community College in May 2010.

Hurt is married to Jon Hurt, and together, they have one son, Jones (1).