Former Western Illinois associate head coach Kyle Heikkinen was named an assistant coach under head coach Tim Bergstraser on April 24, 2025, and completed his first season with the Crimson and Gold in 2025-26.
2025-26 (15-17, 8-8 Summit League – NET: 241):
In his first season with the program, the Pioneers won five of their final seven games to finish 15-17 and 8-8 in the Summit League to tie for fourth place in the league standings. The finish was the program’s best in the league in eight seasons. Denver’s finish to the regular season was ignited by a sweep in Denver’s final Summit League trip to the state of North Dakota, the Pioneers first away sweep of the Fighting Hawks and Bison in program history.
Denver opened the season with the 32nd most difficult non-conference schedule in the country, and went 7-8, including road wins at Montana State, Colorado State and Northern Colorado, a trio of teams that went 34-7 against other opponents at home in 2025-26. Denver’s 2-0 record against in-state foes made Denver the only unbeaten team in the state against in-state competition this season.
WESTERN ILLINOIS
Prior to joining the Denver staff, Heikkinen completed his fifth season on the Western Illinois coaching staff, originally hired under previous head coach Rob Jeter during the Leathernecks time in the Summit League before staying on under head coach Chad Boudreau.Â
In his time in Macomb, Heikkinen helped construct the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history, of which three student-athletes went on to be named to All-Summit League teams and three more went on to be recognized on the All-Ohio Valley teams after the program made its conference transition following the 2022-23 season.Â
Heikkinen helped guide the Leathernecks to their most wins, their most conference wins, their most road wins and their longest winning streak in a decade, a stretch that included a trio of postseason tournament invites.Â
The Wisconsin-Whitewater alum was promoted from assistant to associate head coach ahead of the 2023-24 season, and was given the keys to guide the program’s defensive strategy. In his first season as the defensive coordinator, the Leathernecks finished 22nd in the country in scoring defense (65.7), 20th in field goal percentage defense (40.6), eighth in blocked shots per game (5.6) and third in rebounds per game (42.33). Heikkinen was the lead recruiter for Drew Cisse, who was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24.Â
HEIKKINEN’S OTHER COACHING STOPS
Prior to Western Illinois, Heikkinen was on staff at Highland Community College, leading the program’s recruiting, opponent scouting, film breakdown, academic monitoring, fundraising and team travel. In his three seasons at Highland, the program won three-straight conference championships, a 2018 district title and 2018 and 2020 Region IV championships. Heikkinen had 13 of his student-athletes go on to attain NCAA Division I scholarships.Â
Heikkinen’s collegiate coaching career began at his alma mater in 2013-14. UWW won the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championship in his first year with the program and went 91-25 overall, including three 22+ win seasons. In his second season with the program, they swept the WIAC regular season and tournament titles and set a school record for conference wins in a season with 15.Â
In the years leading up to his collegiate coaching debut, Heikkinen coached high school boys basketball and football for five seasons, worked for ESPN Wisconsin, Rivals.com and 247Sports, and spent time as a licensed insurance agent.Â
The Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, native graduated from the Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Human Performance & Recreation and minored in coaching.Â
Heikkinen and his wife Jess have two daughters, Emma and Madison.Â
Heikkinen’s College Coaching Career
2025-26 – Assistant Coach – Denver
2023-25 – Associate Head Coach – Western Illinois
2020-23 – Assistant Coach – Western Illinois
2017-20 – Associate Head Coach – Highland Community College
2013-17 – Assistant Coach – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Overall Record as an Assistant:Â 252-141Â
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