Courtesy of the New York Jets
The New York Jets announced Wednesday that offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and the team have mutually agreed to part ways.
“I have great respect for Mike Heimerdinger as a football coach,” said head coach Eric Mangini. “Ultimately, we agreed that the best course of action would be for the Jets to go in a different direction. We wish him and his family well.”
Heimerdinger, 53, joined the Jets as the offensive coordinator on January 19, 2005 after having served the past five seasons (2000-2004) as the offensive coordinator of the AFC South’s Tennessee Titans.
Heimerdinger joined the Titans after five seasons coaching the wide receivers for the two-time Denver Broncos. Heimerdinger arrived in Denver in 1995 from Duke University where he was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach in 1994. Before his stint at Duke, Heimerdinger spent five years (1989-‘93) as offensive coordinator at Rice University. In 1988, Heimerdinger also served as offensive coordinator at Cal-State Fullerton, where his club set the school’s single-game record for most points scored with 58.
Heimerdinger began his coaching career in 1975 on the high school level in Illinois and earned a head coaching job at Johnsburg High School in McHenry, Ill. Two years later, he served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Florida in 1980. He spent 1981 at the Air Force Academy and at North Texas State in 1982 before returning to Florida in 1983.
He spent five years at Florida before moving on to Cal-State Fullerton. A native of DeKalb, IL (10/13/52), Heimerdinger played wide receiver (1970-71) and centerfield at Eastern Illinois, where he earned his degree in history in 1975. He also participated in the NCAA Division II College World Series in 1974. He later earned his master’s in Administration from Northern Illinois. Mike and his wife, Kathie are parents of daughter, Alicia (23) and son, Brian (19).