MILWAUKEE – Marc Heidorf, athletic director and head women's basketball coach at Mount Mary University has announced he is leaving MMU to pursue other career opportunities. Heidorf has spent the past six seasons in the dual role for the Blue Angels.

"We thank Marc for his service to athletics at Mount Mary and wish him all the best as he takes the next step in his career," said Mount Mary University President Dr. Christine Pharr. "He certainly has grown basketball at Mount Mary into a winning team and his departure is a loss to that program, but I have great confidence that we will have a winning season given the strong players he has recruited."

Heidorf began his time at Mount Mary University in 2013 in the dual role of director of athletics and head basketball coach. In 2015, Heidorf championed a move for Mount Mary tennis and cross country to join the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference as associate members of the regional conference in those two sports. Prior to that move, all MMU sports had been independent, or without conference affiliation.

In 2015, Heidorf also made the decision for Mount Mary basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball to join the Great South Athletic Conference for its final season in competition in the NCAA. That also marked the first time basketball, cross country, soccer, softball and volleyball participated in a NCAA conference tournament.

The same year, Heidorf helped the Blue Angels add golf to the list of NCAA sponsored sports at MMU. Along with the addition of golf, Heidorf added a third title and assumed head coaching duties of the newly founded program that he would continue through 2017.

As head basketball coach, Heidorf collected 37 wins at the helm, which makes him the winningest coach in the program's history. Along with multiple conference honors for his players throughout the years, Heidorf also led MMU Basketball to their best regular season in school history in 2018-19 with a final record of 10-11.

"I will forever be grateful to Mount Mary for giving me the opportunity to come back to Wisconsin and to grow as both a coach and administrator," said Heidorf. "I look at where this department is now and could not be more proud. People like Kelsey Peterson, Ryan Larson, and Tim Edwards, among others got us up off the mat and I have absolutely no question that the current staff including Natalie Balleto, Perry Clark, and John Baillie are taking it to the next level."

Heidorf continued, "My greatest career accomplishment to date is what we have created in the Blue Angel basketball program. Leaving this team is one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. But I do so with the full knowledge that these ladies have the talent, work ethic, and HEART to reach the goals they have set for themselves. It is, and always has been, THEIR program."

Heidorf will continue his duties until the beginning of the semester. Natalie Balleto will serve as interim athletic director while a search is conducted for a permanent replacement.