Hangin' with Hef

Listen to Jim Heffernan's press conference here

LIsten to Jimmy Kennedy discuss the hire here

LIsten to Jordan Blanton here

Read our story on the new coach here

Check out Bob Asmussen's take here

Check out Brian Moline's take here

Getting to know new Illinois wrestling coach Jim Heffernan. After 17 years on Mark Johnson's Illinois staff, the 45-year-old former Iowa star takes over the wrestling program. Here's Heff:

What are you driving?

A Dodge minivan from Shelby Motors.

What are you listening to?

Generally, ESPN Radio. I listen to Colin Cowherd daily. Music, it would probably be George Strait.

Age of first wrestling match?

I was 8. I won. I was fairly successful early.

Favorite wrestling moment?

Individually, it was more about the chase to get to where I was as opposed to anything I did specifically. That's what I remember as a competitor. As a coach, we've had 18 national finalists. We've had seven national champs, four Big Ten Medal of Honors. It's a bunch of things.

Favorite movie?

"For Love of the Game."

Favorite sports other than wrestling?

I'm a huge college football and huge baseball fan. I'm an American League fan. I grew up in Cleveland. When I was growing up, I lived 15 miles from the stadium. I could drive down, park, buy a ticket and be 10 rows off of third base.

Illinois wrestling under you will be?

I'd like to think over the last 17 years, we did a lot of good things. Our goals are going to be high. We need to be competitive at the Big Ten level and the national level. Because of what's happened the last couple of years, the Big Ten gets more and more competitive by the day, as does college wrestling. Our expectations and our goals and our commitment need to change. We need to raise the bar to make sure we're keeping that standard as high as it should be.

Did you ask for Cael Sanderson money (reported $500,000 annually)?

Calipari money.

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