Park University Women's Soccer

Hefner enters his 12th season boasting a record of 130-69-12 (.616 winning percentage) for the Pirates with an overall record of 270-187-19 coaching women's soccer and 285-194-21 in two decades coaching at the collegiate level. In 2013, Hefner led Park to a 9-8-1 record, overall, but the team performed well in conference matches, collecting an 8-2 record on the way to an appearance in the AMC title game. Hefner guided Park to the program's ninth appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in 2012 posting a 12-7-0 record, including a perfect 10-0 against teams from the AMC before ending the season in the NAIA Opening Round to eventual national champion Lindsey Wilson College. Hefner earned AMC Coach of the Year honors for his efforts last season marking the second time receiving the award. The 2012 squad was headlined by a pair of NAIA All-America Honorable Mention selections in Dana Hemmingsen and Juneille Watkins while Hemmingsen also garnered AMC Player of the Year accolades as the duo combined for 42 goals. Hefner has carried the winning tradition of the Park women's soccer program leading the Pirates to its 23rd winning season in 25 years of competition and the 22nd time recording at least 10 wins. In 2010, Hefner was named AMC Coach of the Year after leading Park to a share of the AMC regular season championship. The team made the AMC Tournament championship game earning its 10th-straight decision without a defeat, drawing at McKendree University and ending the season on penalty kicks. Hefner led the Pirates to their eighth NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2008 after claiming their third-straight MCAC regular season championship and fourth in the previous five years, capping the conference season with a second-straight MCAC Tournament championship at Julian Field. At the conclusion of the 2008 season, Hefner garnered a pair of honors, being named NSCAA/adidas NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, as well as MCAC Co-Coach of the Year. He also coached nine all-conference players, two of which went on to be named NAIA All-Americans. In 2006, Hefner led the Pirates to a regular season MCAC championship and the school's fifth consecutive appearance at the NAIA National Tournament. Hefner was honored as the Region IV Coach of the Year and MCAC Co-Coach of the Year. Hefner ranks as the sixth winningest active coach in NAIA history, and is one of seven coaches all-time to reach the 200 win plateau owning 235 career women's wins in eight seasons at Park, seven seasons at Lindsey Wilson College (1993-1999) and three seasons at Tennessee Wesleyan College (1990-93). Additionally, Hefner posted 19 wins as the head coach at NCAA Division I Arkansas State, helping his career coaching wins total to eighth all-time among NAIA women's coaches. He also has 29 men's wins from his time at Tennessee Wesleyan to push his overall career total to 264 wins. While at Lindsey Wilson, Hefner's teams advanced to the national tournament twice (1998, 1999) and achieved a final national ranking of fifth following the 1999 season. In seven seasons at Lindsey Wilson, he posted a 93-46-5 record and had 11 players earn NAIA All-America honors. In 1999, Hefner was tabbed to lead a start-up soccer program at Arkansas State, which began play in 2000. His teams qualified for the Sun Belt Conference tournament four years in a row under his guidance and had three players named to the all-conference team from 2000-2003. In addition to Hefner's success on the field, his players have enjoyed success in the classroom with two Pirates earning Capital One Academic All-America First-Team honors to go with 11 Capital One Academic All-District 5 selections in the last three seasons.  Hefner has guided the women's soccer program to three-straight NAIA Scholar Team designations, and 12 players have been named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes during his tenure at Park University. At Lindsey Wilson, he had 18 academic all-conference selections and eight NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes. During his time at Arkansas State, his team owned an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in six of seven semesters. Hefner owns a United States Soccer Federation National B License, an Advanced National License, and an NSCAA National Diploma. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from West Georgia College in 1987. He and his wife, Dawn, have three children, Matthew (27), Megan (26), and Mackenzie (22). With more than a decade on the Park University women's soccer sideline, Ken Hefner is optimistic for the 2015 season after a second-place finish in the American Midwest Conference in 2014 and an appearance in the AMC Tournament Semifinals. In 2014, the Pirates were 12-7, pushing the program's all-time record closer to 400 wins at 374-146-21. Park was also 9-2 in conference games, finishing second before bowing out to Missouri Baptist University in the AMC's semifinal round, led by Shnell Briscoe's 17 goals and 28 combined scores from returners Emma Chatterton (13) and Gabi Severns (15). Hefner enters his 12th season boasting a record of 130-69-12 (.616 winning percentage) for the Pirates with an overall record of 270-187-19 coaching women's soccer and 285-194-21 in two decades coaching at the collegiate level. In 2013, Hefner led Park to a 9-8-1 record, overall, but the team performed well in conference matches, collecting an 8-2 record on the way to an appearance in the AMC title game. Hefner guided Park to the program's ninth appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in 2012 posting a 12-7-0 record, including a perfect 10-0 against teams from the AMC before ending the season in the NAIA Opening Round to eventual national champion Lindsey Wilson College. Hefner earned AMC Coach of the Year honors for his efforts last season marking the second time receiving the award. The 2012 squad was headlined by a pair of NAIA All-America Honorable Mention selections in Dana Hemmingsen and Juneille Watkins while Hemmingsen also garnered AMC Player of the Year accolades as the duo combined for 42 goals. Hefner has carried the winning tradition of the Park women's soccer program leading the Pirates to its 23rd winning season in 25 years of competition and the 22nd time recording at least 10 wins. In 2010, Hefner was named AMC Coach of the Year after leading Park to a share of the AMC regular season championship. The team made the AMC Tournament championship game earning its 10th-straight decision without a defeat, drawing at McKendree University and ending the season on penalty kicks. Hefner led the Pirates to their eighth NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2008 after claiming their third-straight MCAC regular season championship and fourth in the previous five years, capping the conference season with a second-straight MCAC Tournament championship at Julian Field. At the conclusion of the 2008 season, Hefner garnered a pair of honors, being named NSCAA/adidas NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, as well as MCAC Co-Coach of the Year. He also coached nine all-conference players, two of which went on to be named NAIA All-Americans. In 2006, Hefner led the Pirates to a regular season MCAC championship and the school's fifth consecutive appearance at the NAIA National Tournament. Hefner was honored as the Region IV Coach of the Year and MCAC Co-Coach of the Year. Hefner ranks as the sixth winningest active coach in NAIA history, and is one of seven coaches all-time to reach the 200 win plateau owning 235 career women's wins in eight seasons at Park, seven seasons at Lindsey Wilson College (1993-1999) and three seasons at Tennessee Wesleyan College (1990-93). Additionally, Hefner posted 19 wins as the head coach at NCAA Division I Arkansas State, helping his career coaching wins total to eighth all-time among NAIA women's coaches. He also has 29 men's wins from his time at Tennessee Wesleyan to push his overall career total to 264 wins. While at Lindsey Wilson, Hefner's teams advanced to the national tournament twice (1998, 1999) and achieved a final national ranking of fifth following the 1999 season. In seven seasons at Lindsey Wilson, he posted a 93-46-5 record and had 11 players earn NAIA All-America honors. In 1999, Hefner was tabbed to lead a start-up soccer program at Arkansas State, which began play in 2000. His teams qualified for the Sun Belt Conference tournament four years in a row under his guidance and had three players named to the all-conference team from 2000-2003. In addition to Hefner's success on the field, his players have enjoyed success in the classroom with two Pirates earning Capital One Academic All-America First-Team honors to go with 11 Capital One Academic All-District 5 selections in the last three seasons.  Hefner has guided the women's soccer program to three-straight NAIA Scholar Team designations, and 12 players have been named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes during his tenure at Park University. At Lindsey Wilson, he had 18 academic all-conference selections and eight NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes. During his time at Arkansas State, his team owned an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in six of seven semesters. Hefner owns a United States Soccer Federation National B License, an Advanced National License, and an NSCAA National Diploma. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from West Georgia College in 1987. He and his wife, Dawn, have three children, Matthew (27), Megan (26), and Mackenzie (22).