Al Heagy
Encyclopedia
Albert B. Heagy was an American chemist, educator, politician, and college lacrosse
player and coach. Alongside, Jack Faber
, he was the co-head coach of the University of Maryland
lacrosse team from 1931 to 1963, and the head coach from 1964 to 1965, and amassed a combined record of 245–57–7. During that time, Maryland secured six outright national championships, two shared national championships, and nine Atlantic Coast Conference
championships. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1965. Heagy also served as the Maryland
state chemist and the mayor of University Park
.
. He attended Western High School, where he played football and basketball for three years. Heagy served as the basketball team captain as a senior. He graduated from Western High School in 1926.
Heagy attended college at the University of Maryland
, where he earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1930. While there, he earned nine varsity letter
s on the football
, basketball
, and lacrosse teams. In 1929, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
named Heagy an honorable mention All-American
at inside defense. In 1930, the USILA named him to the first team at first defense. At Maryland, Heagy was also three-time class president, a member of the Sigma Nu
fraternity, and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa
honor society.
as a "co-head coach" responsible for running the team's defense. From 1931 to 1963, Heagy served as co-coach of the Maryland lacrosse team alongside Jack Faber
. During that time period, Faber and Heagy led the Terrapins to a 224–52–2 record. After Faber retired in 1963, Heagy took over as the team's sole head coach in 1964 and 1965. In those two seasons, he amassed a record of 21–5.
Heagy also held offices with the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, the State of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame, the Arts and Sciences Executive Committee, Board of Directors of the M Club, and as chairman of the Scholarship Fund. He served as a councilman and mayor of University Park, Maryland
, and also held posts with the Prince George's County Heart Association, the Draft Board
, the College Park
Rotary Club, the Parent-Teachers Association, and the Boy Scouts
.
in 1984. He retired on June 30, 1986. In 1987, the University of Maryland alumni organization, the M Club, established the Al Heagy Scholarship Fund with a $500 donation from seven members, which included Jack Heise
and Hotsy Alperstein. Heagy died from a stroke on April 1, 1990 at Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland
.
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
player and coach. Alongside, Jack Faber
Jack Faber
John Edgar Faber, Jr. was an American microbiologist and college football and lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland. Faber served as the Maryland lacrosse coach from 1928 to 1963, during which time he compiled a 249–57 record and secured numerous national and conference championships...
, he was the co-head coach of the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
lacrosse team from 1931 to 1963, and the head coach from 1964 to 1965, and amassed a combined record of 245–57–7. During that time, Maryland secured six outright national championships, two shared national championships, and nine Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
championships. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1965. Heagy also served as the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state chemist and the mayor of University Park
University Park, Maryland
University Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.-Geography:University Park is located at ....
.
Early life
Heagy was born on December 3, 1906 in Rockville, MarylandRockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
. He attended Western High School, where he played football and basketball for three years. Heagy served as the basketball team captain as a senior. He graduated from Western High School in 1926.
Heagy attended college at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1930. While there, he earned nine varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s on the football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, basketball
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
, and lacrosse teams. In 1929, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
named Heagy an honorable mention All-American
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
at inside defense. In 1930, the USILA named him to the first team at first defense. At Maryland, Heagy was also three-time class president, a member of the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity, and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
honor society.
Coaching career
After graduation, Heagy assisted Maryland head coach Jack FaberJack Faber
John Edgar Faber, Jr. was an American microbiologist and college football and lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland. Faber served as the Maryland lacrosse coach from 1928 to 1963, during which time he compiled a 249–57 record and secured numerous national and conference championships...
as a "co-head coach" responsible for running the team's defense. From 1931 to 1963, Heagy served as co-coach of the Maryland lacrosse team alongside Jack Faber
Jack Faber
John Edgar Faber, Jr. was an American microbiologist and college football and lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland. Faber served as the Maryland lacrosse coach from 1928 to 1963, during which time he compiled a 249–57 record and secured numerous national and conference championships...
. During that time period, Faber and Heagy led the Terrapins to a 224–52–2 record. After Faber retired in 1963, Heagy took over as the team's sole head coach in 1964 and 1965. In those two seasons, he amassed a record of 21–5.
Professional career
In August 1930, Heagy began working as a chemist for the State Inspection Service. He rose through the ranks and was appointed the state chemist for the Maryland Department of Chemistry on February 1, 1962, while at the same time serving on the faculty at the University of Maryland.Heagy also held offices with the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, the State of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame, the Arts and Sciences Executive Committee, Board of Directors of the M Club, and as chairman of the Scholarship Fund. He served as a councilman and mayor of University Park, Maryland
University Park, Maryland
University Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.-Geography:University Park is located at ....
, and also held posts with the Prince George's County Heart Association, the Draft Board
Draft board
Draft Board was a part of the Selective Service Act which registered and selected men of military age for conscription in the United States-Local Board:...
, the College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
Rotary Club, the Parent-Teachers Association, and the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
Later life
On August 8, 1940, Heagy married his wife Elizabeth, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Heagy was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of FameUniversity of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1984. He retired on June 30, 1986. In 1987, the University of Maryland alumni organization, the M Club, established the Al Heagy Scholarship Fund with a $500 donation from seven members, which included Jack Heise
Jack Heise
John Irvin "Jack" Heise, Jr. was an important benefactor of the University of Maryland. His dedication to Terrapins sports earned him the nickname "Mr. Maryland".-Early life:...
and Hotsy Alperstein. Heagy died from a stroke on April 1, 1990 at Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland
Cheverly, Maryland
Cheverly is a town in central Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., United States. The town was founded in 1918 and it was incorporated in 1931. Cheverly had 6,433 residents as of the 2000 Census....
.