UIC softball head coach Lynn Curylo announced the addition of decorated alum Elaine Heflin to her staff on Sept. 17, 2019. A three-time Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, Heflin will be returning home to UIC to work primarily with Flames pitchers.
“It is great to have Elaine back home!” Curylo said. “She understands the expectations that go along with coaching for a program with a winning history. Her stellar career here as a pitcher shows that she knows what it takes to win in the circle!”
“It means the world to me to be back home and to be a part of the program again to continue the tradition of winning,” Heflin added.
Heflin boasts an impressive playing resume from her time at UIC that includes three Horizon League All-League First Team honors, two NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Third Team accolades, as well as one NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team award.
Heflin’s most recent stop was at the Center for Community Engagement in Fayetteville, Ark., where she served as a graduate assistant, advising and assisting students with achieving both short and long term goals, while also organizing community events and summits.
Prior to her time at the Center for Community Engagement, Heflin spent a year with the University of Arkansas softball program as a graduate assistant. Heflin assisted the Razorbacks with practice oversight, as well as managed the pitching staff through daily bullpens, game day warm-ups and pitching challenges.
The former standout has served as owner and coach at Pitch-to-Pitch Softball Instruction since May of 2013, designing and implementing pitching specific programs, tracking pitchers’ progress and creating accountability workshops to aide in the mental and physical development of pitchers.
The Downers Grove, Ill. native left her name scattered across UIC’s pitching record book, ranking first all-time in saves (11), fifth in strikeouts (501), eighth in wins (47) and ninth in complete games (50). Heflin also owns the single-game strikeout record, striking out 18 back on April 14, 2017 against Northern Kentucky.
To view Heflin's full player bio, click
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