Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – Northern State University Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, Lynne Dingman announced today the addition of Macy Heinz as the program’s distance coach. A decorated competitor and school record holder at both South Dakota and Kansas State, Heinz brings a wealth of knowledge to the distance program.

“We are so excited to have Macy join our Wolves family,” explained Dingman. “Macy is an elite runner, and we are excited to have her bring her knowledge and experience to our team. Being an Ipswich native, she has great South Dakota ties for recruiting our area and I know she is going to be an amazing coach and mentor for our student-athletes.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead the Northern State distance program,” noted Heinz. “Coach Dingman’s work building the program has laid a strong foundation for success, and I look forward to helping build upon it with a dedicated group of athletes. As someone who grew up in Ipswich watching the NSU Wolves, being able to contribute to the team’s growth is exciting.”

She kicked off her coaching career as a program assistant for the Ipswich Summer Strength and Conditioning program. Heinz provided instruction to over 40 athletes, developing programs to meet their fitness and sport specific needs. The Ipswich native spent the spring of 2023 at her alma mater as an assistant coach at Ipswich High School. The Tigers’ boys program won the South Dakota State ‘B’ Championships, racking up 54 team points.

Most recently Heinz served as a community health educator for Better Choices, Better Health-SD. Her duties included education on nutrition, health, and disease prevention, engaging and motivating participants to improve their health behaviors, and assisted in the creation and adaptation of health initiatives and strategies throughout the state.

Heinz earned bachelor’s degrees in community health and communications studies from Kansas State University in 2022. In addition, she is a certified nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Heinz competed collegiately for the Coyotes and Wildcats holding South Dakota school records in the 600m and 4x800m, and a Kansas State school record in the 4x800m. She sits third all-time at Kansas State in the 800m and was a multi-time All-Big 12 performer for the Wildcats and an All-American. She is well known throughout the state winning 20 South Dakota State Championships between track and field and cross country. Heinz was a 5-time Class B State Track and Field MVP and the 2015 Gatorade Athlete of the Year in track and field.