(JCCC Sports Information) OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Former Johnson County Community College Athletic Director Carl Heinrich was inducted into the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame at the 58th annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Center Resort in Orlando Monday, June 12. The other members of the 2023 NACDA Hall of Fame class included: Jim Abbott, Oklahoma City University; Art Becker, Scottsdale Community College; Bob Bowlsby, Stanford University; Bob Driscoll, Providence College; Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth University; Lynn Thompson, Bethune-Cookman University; and Perk Weisenburger, Ferris State University.
Heinrich is the 32 former athletic directors from 2-year schools to be inducted to the NACDA Hall of Fame, and the fourth from the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
Heinrich served community college athletics for over 41 years, both as a coach and an administrator. He made his mark for 26 years on the campus of Johnson County Community College (JCCC), serving in several capacities including assistant baseball coach, head baseball coach, academic director for physical education and athletics, program manager for athletics, program coordinator for student activities and as a career counselor before becoming athletics director in 2000.
In his 16 years as leader of JCCC's athletics program, the college achieved unprecedented academic, athletics and administrative success. The Cavaliers claimed nine national championships, along with 76 region titles, 80 conference titles, and 197 national tournament berths with 61 top-five finishes. Additionally, Johnson County had achieved a top-10 finish in 11 of the 13 years the NATYCAA Cup was awarded under his watch, including three third place finishes, two runners-up and a national cup championship in 2007-08, making Johnson County the only program in its conference to earn that distinction.
During his tenure at JCCC, Heinrich served as NJCAA Region VI women's director for 10 years and spent time as a member of several national committees, including the NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Committee and NJCAA Women's Wrestling Committee. Heinrich also served six seasons as assistant baseball coach and one as head baseball coach at JCCC. He began his college coaching career as head coach at Highland Community College in 1980. He also served five seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Scotties' football team. Before becoming head coach at Highland, he played professionally for the Class A McAllen Dusters of the Lone Star Texas League.
Heinrich was recognized as an Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) by NACDA in 2007-08 during his term on the NACDA Executive Committee from 2005-09. He served as NATYCAA Treasurer for three years and spent one year as 2nd Vice President before his term as the Association's President for the 2009-10 academic year. In 2011, Heinrich received the NJCAA George E. Killian Award of Excellence, which is given to individuals that have demonstrated the ideals of voluntarism, achievement, service, leadership and excellence as exemplified by its namesake. In 2013, Heinrich earned NATYCAA's L. William Miller Award, which recognizes a member of the Association who demonstrates excellence in leadership, service and integrity in an athletics program at a two-year college or organization.
Heinrich retired as athletics director in June 2017 to become the assistant commissioner of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC). He was named the conference's commissioner in 2018, succeeding former NJCAA President Bryce Roderick, and retired from the position at the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year.