After getting a chance to run his own program, Jim Heffernan isn't about to take a break.

Named as Mark Johnson's replacement as Illinois wrestling coach on Tuesday, Heffernan hasn't had much down time. First, he had to switch offices at the Bielfeldt Building, moving from his old room to Johnson's former space. After 17 years, there was plenty of stuff to gather.

This weekend at the Armory, 700 youth wrestlers from the state are competing in a tournament. And Heffernan is around to lend a hand. On Friday, he was helping to move equipment into place. "Grunt work," Heffernan called it.

Heffernan doesn't miss a chance to praise his former boss Johnson, who is now the CEO of the Champaign County YMCA. But the Illini under Heffernan won't be the same as the Illini under Johnson. There will be changes. Some subtle. Some a bit more dramatic. But all of it done with one idea: to keep the Illinois program pointing forward.

Heffernan is happy to stay busy. The right job came along and he was the logical choice.