Ali Heller joined the University of Hartford women’s basketball team’s coaching staff in September 2017. A former standout for the women’s basketball team at Rider, Heller comes to Hartford after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart.
In her first season, Hartford made America East Conference history. Behind a pair of thrilling come-from-behind wins against number three Binghamton and number two UAlbany, the Hawks became the first-ever number six seed to advance to the title game of the conference tournament.
The Hawks posted a 19-13 record in Heller's first season as a member of the Hartford coaching staff, marking the program’s winningest season since 2012-13.
Brought on to the Pioneers’ coaching staff prior to the start of the 2015-16 season, Heller shared recruiting and scouting responsibilities while serving as the team’s travel, video and service coordinator. During her time at Sacred Heart, she helped lead the team to back-to-back WNIT Tournament appearances in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Prior to landing at Sacred Heart, Heller spent two seasons on the women’s basketball coaching staff at Jacksonville State where she assisted with the team’s backcourt. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks were among the best in the country at handling the ball in 2014-15, ranking No. 4 in Division I after committing just 11.2 turnovers per game.
Heller got her start in collegiate coaching at Lynn University, where she assisted with daily practices, recruiting, film exchange and community service.
A four-year letter winner at Rider, Heller appeared in more than 90 games for the Broncs. In addition to eclipsing the 450-point mark on her career, she finished her career ranked among the program’s top-15 in three-point field goals with 106.
As a junior, Heller was named the 2011 MAAC Sixth Player of the Year after finishing No. 10 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.433) while averaging 8.8 points per game that season. She graduated from Rider in 2012 with a degree in business administration.
