Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz announced on Sept. 13, 2024, that he restructured the Tarleton State Athletics Administration department, promoting Eric Heier to Deputy Athletic Director.
“I inherited a tremendous athletic administration full of high-quality professionals who have helped transform Tarleton State into what it is today,” Uryasz said in his announcement. “The new structure better matches a typical NCAA Division I model, creating hierarchy with modified reporting lines. Eric Heier has been instrumental to Tarleton State’s prominent rise, and I can think of no better fit for this position."
Heier has been a key figure in Tarleton State Athletics since joining the department nearly six years ago and one of the primary drivers behind the university's reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I.
Heier joined Tarleton State Athletics as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Success in March 2020, and was quickly elevated to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance in July 2021. Heier has helped Tarleton State thrive in several key areas, including the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), an important measurement that details how an institution is performing in the areas of academics, graduation, and student-athlete retention. Tarleton State set an unprecedented benchmark in 2021 with a score of 990, the highest mark ever earned by a first-year reclassifying institution.
“I am honored to take on this new role and continue serving Tarleton State in its mission to provide exceptional experiences for its student-athletes,” Heier said. “The progress we’ve made and success we’ve achieved over the past few years is just the beginning. I’m excited for what the future holds and I’m grateful to Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz for entrusting me with this great responsibility.”
Heier has served several programs as the sport supervisor while at Tarleton State, including the volleyball, soccer, men’s golf, beach volleyball, tennis, cross country and track and field teams. Heier was entrusted with leading the charge to re-start Tarleton State’s storied men’s golf program, as well as start from scratch the soccer and beach volleyball programs. As of August 2025, Heier is the sport supervisor for the beach volleyball and soccer programs, plus assists VP Uryasz with sport oversight of the football men’s basketball programs.
“Eric Heier simply ‘gets it,’” Tarleton State head football coach Todd Whitten said. “My staff and I love working with Eric. He is in college athletics for the right reasons, which are helping our student athletes graduate and be successful.”
In his new role, Heier will serve as the departmental lead in the execution of day-to-day operations, providing leadership, planning, and supervision through the ever-changing landscape of collegiate sports.
"This a well-deserved promotion,” Tarleton State head men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie said. “In my time in D1 athletics, Eric is one of the best leaders I have had the pleasure of working with. His guidance and expertise the last four years have been nothing short of brilliant. This is a great move for the Texans."
“He's one of the best in the business,” Tarleton State head women’s soccer head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “Eric is a huge asset to Tarleton State and Tarleton Athletics.”
Prior to arriving in Stephenville, Heier spent two seasons at Montana State as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance with the responsibility of educating and monitoring the institution’s student-athletes, coaches, employees, and boosters.
Prior to his time at Montana State, Heier worked in the legal field before entering the world of collegiate athletics. He earned an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) and a juris doctor degree from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. While completing his law degree, Heier worked for the Department of Justice, served in the chambers of a district court judge, and oversaw nine legal clinics designed to provide legal resources to underserved populations.
Heier’s career in athletics began with a short stint at BYU, after which he spent three years in the University of Utah’s Office of Athletics Compliance before making the move to become Montana State’s chief compliance officer.
Heier is a native of American Fork, Utah, and is married to Shelby Heier. The couple has four children – Thor, Bruce, Penny, and Lola.
