Stan Heath (born March 30, 1964) is an American college basketball coach and former player. He has served as head coach at several NCAA Division I programs, including Kent State University, Central Michigan University, and Tulane University, and has held assistant coaching positions at various institutions.
Early life and playing career
Heath was born in Cortland, New York. He attended the University at Albany, SUNY, where he played as a guard for the Albany Great Danes men's basketball team from 1982 to 1986. After graduating with a degree in health and physical education, he pursued a career in coaching.
Coaching career
Assistant coaching positions (1990–2002)
Heath began his coaching career as an assistant at Siena College (1990–1992) before moving to the University of Notre Dame (1992–1996), where he worked under head coach John MacLeod. He later served as an assistant at the University of Virginia (1996–1997) and at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under Steve Lavin (1997–1998). He returned to Notre Dame as an assistant (1998–2000) and subsequently joined the staff at the University of Central Florida (2000–2002).
Kent State University (2002–2008)
Heath was appointed head coach at Kent State in 2002. He led the Golden Flashes to six consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular‑season titles (2003–2008) and three MAC tournament championships (2006, 2008). Under his guidance, Kent State made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a notable upset of Indiana University in the first round of the 2006 tournament. Heath earned MAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
Central Michigan University (2008–2012)
In April 2008, Heath became head coach at Central Michigan. During his tenure, the Chippewas recorded a 78–62 overall record and captured the MAC West Division title in the 2009–10 season. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2010.
Tulane University (2012–2014)
Heath was hired as head coach of the Tulane Green Wave in March 2012. Over two seasons, his teams posted a combined record of 22–41. He was dismissed in March 2014 following a 9–22 season.
Assistant coaching roles (2014–present)
Following his head‑coaching stints, Heath served as an assistant coach at Providence College (2014–2019) under Ed Cooley, contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament bids. In 2019, he joined the staff at the University of Texas at Austin as an associate head coach. As of the latest available information, Heath continues to work in collegiate basketball coaching, though his current position may be subject to change.
Coaching style and legacy
Heath is recognized for emphasizing disciplined defense, strong rebounding, and balanced scoring. His success at Kent State, particularly the program’s consistent conference dominance and NCAA Tournament appearances, is often highlighted as a significant achievement in mid‑major college basketball.
Personal life
Heath is married and has children. He holds a master's degree in education administration from the University of Notre Dame.