By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – Two new coaches have been named for Heartland Hawks baseball and men’s soccer. Brian Furlong will lead the HCC baseball team and Jonathan Titzel will head men’s soccer.
Furlong comes to Heartland from Creighton University where he served as the director of baseball operations and most recently as pitching coach. Prior to Creighton, he was a general manager for Diamond Dreams, Inc. and a baseball instructor for BASH Sports Academy. Furlong also worked for the University of Iowa as the director of baseball operations.
As a pitcher, Furlong played for Iowa State in 2001, Creighton in 2003 and the University of Iowa for the 2004-05 seasons. He has been recognized as a Big 12 Conference Scholar Athlete was named to the academic all-conference team for the Missouri Valley and the Big Ten. Furlong earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa in 2005.
Titzel comes to Heartland from Bloomington’s Midwest Reign Soccer Club. There, he coached several boys and girls teams and also served as the director of coaching. Prior to Midwest Reign Soccer Club, Titzel was an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at Illinois Wesleyan from 2005 to 2007.
As a competitor, Titzel played for Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA from 1998 to 2002 where his team was ranked in the top 25 all four seasons, made three appearances to the NCAA playoffs and finished third in the country in 1998. While at Mercyhurst, Titzel earned a BA in Management Information Systems.
“Brian and Jonathan are tremendous additions to our program and school,” said Director of Fitness and Recreation Center and Athletics, Ryan Knox. “Their experience and the respect they have in the athletic community adds to Heartland’s commitment to excellence. I’m confident in their ability to mentor student athletes on and off the field.”
As head coaches, Furlong and Titzel have the responsibility to develop successful student athletes by fostering positive personal character, sportsmanship, teamwork and conduct on and off the field. They will oversee all day-to-day team tasks, schedule and organize games and practice schedules, and recruit a roster of student athletes.
