After 44 Years, Coach Gregg Hedden Reflects on a Career Built on Culture, Growth, and Impact

For 44 years, coaching has been a constant in Coach Gregg Hedden's life.

Seasons have come and gone. Teams have changed. Hundreds of players have passed through his program. But the purpose behind it all — developing young athletes into better people — has remained the same.

Now, after more than two decades as a head coach and over four decades in the profession, Hedden is stepping into a new chapter. He will transition from the head coaching role into an assistant position, allowing him to remain connected to the game while passing leadership to the next generation.

The decision wasn't sudden. In fact, it had been part of a plan for years.

Still, it didn't come without reflection.

"In a really light, jokey way, I tell people I'm tired of losing at golf to my wife," Hedden said with a smile. "She golfs six days a week, and I'm at work thinking I'm paying for it."

But beneath the humor is a deeper reality.

"This is 44 years I've been doing it," he said. "And if I don't step away now, I may never. That wouldn't be fair to my family."

Preparing the Next Leader

The transition is also about keeping a promise.

When Hedden first began working alongside Jake, he told him he would help prepare him to become a head coach — not just on the field, but behind the scenes where the real work often happens.

"I promised him I would show him all the ins and outs," Hedden explained. "The administrative side, the recruiting, the hours spent behind a computer. Everything that goes into running a program."

Jake has already begun taking on many of those responsibilities, including leading recruiting efforts for the program.

Hedden even stayed one year longer than originally planned to make sure the transition was complete.

"I just felt like I hadn't handed him enough yet," he said. "Now it's his time."

Defining Success Differently

While championships and win totals often define coaching careers, Hedden sees success through a different lens.

He points first to the classroom.

Last season alone, 22 players — roughly 60 percent of the roster — earned OCC academic honors. Even more impressive, every sophomore on the team graduated.

"That's what makes these teams special," Hedden said. "Seeing those academic awards and watching players succeed in school means a lot."

It reflects the culture he worked to build over the years — one focused on development both on and off the field.

He also credits his assistant coaches for the program's growth.

"I always tell recruits I'm not the baseball guy," Hedden said. "My assistants are the baseball guys. I'm more like the general manager. I organize the program, manage the season, and sometimes I get to be the bad guy."

He laughs at that last part.

"It'll be nice not always being the bad guy."

The Evolution of a Coach

Like many coaches, Hedden's leadership style evolved over time.

Before becoming a head coach, he spent 10 years as an assistant, learning from experienced mentors across multiple sports. Those early years gave him a foundation that shaped the rest of his career.

But he admits his perspective has changed dramatically since those early days.

"When I was younger, I was extremely emotional," Hedden said. "I thought I could manipulate the game."

Growing up watching legendary coaches like Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski, he believed great coaches controlled everything.

"I thought they were puppeteers."

Experience eventually taught him otherwise.

"You can influence moments in a game," he said. "But the game is really mastered during practice. Once the game starts, the players have to figure it out."

That realization shifted his focus toward preparation, culture, and trust in his athletes.

Advice for Young Coaches

For young coaches stepping into leadership roles, Hedden offers simple but powerful advice:

Surround yourself with great people.

"You're only as good as your assistant coaches," he said.

Building a staff that challenges ideas and offers honest feedback is essential.

"I don't need yes people," he explained. "I need people who will disagree with me."

That philosophy extends to recruiting as well.

"Culture should always be the most important factor in building a team," he said. "It should never just be about wins and losses. Those come."

Leadership, he believes, is about guiding a group toward a shared goal.

"It's about leading young men or women in the same direction," he said. "As P.J. Fleck says, it's about rowing the boat together."

A Career That Was "Invaluable"

When asked to describe his coaching journey in a single word, Hedden paused for a moment before answering.

"Invaluable."

Over the course of 44 years, he has coached countless athletes and watched many of them grow into successful adults.

Along the way, he has also experienced the realities of the profession — the pressure, the criticism, and the difficult decisions that come with leadership.

"The longer you're in this business, the more enemies you make," he said with a laugh. "At the high school level, you might upset eight or ten parents every year."

But those challenges never overshadowed the impact the game had on his life.

"It was hard to survive 44 years," he said. "But it's been invaluable."

The Next Chapter

Although Hedden is stepping away from the head coaching role, he isn't leaving the game he loves.

Instead, he's stepping into a new role where he can continue mentoring players and supporting the program he helped build.

And after decades of carrying the responsibilities of a head coach, he's ready to enjoy the game in a different way.

"It'll be nice being the assistant," he said.

The title may change, but his influence on the program — and the athletes who pass through it — will remain the same.