Wake Forest Athletics
Lynne Heflin Honored for Dedication to Wake Forest Athletics with Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award
2/10/2025 8:36:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball
Heflin remains a dedicated supporter of the Demon Deacons even after her time in the office.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - For 35 years, Lynne Heflin played a vital role in the Wake Forest basketball family as administrative assistant to the head basketball coach. Now, she is being honored with the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize her everlasting impact on Wake Forest.
"When they told me they were giving me this award, I was stunned and honored," said Heflin. "I would have never thought of myself as someone who would be in consideration for this, but it's nice to be remembered. You don't often think of yourself the way other people think of you. I guess that goes for how I saw Gene. He hired me in 1985, but was more like a father-figure than a boss. It was a simpler time, so he knew everyone and would help anyone who needed it. He wasn't just an athletic director, he made the athletic department family. And family is the most important thing when you do a job that requires 24/7 of you. He was a special person, and was very good to everyone he came in contact with."
Heflin's knowledge of the program and the university was invaluable. She worked closely with head coaches Bob Staak, Dave Odom, Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio, Jeff Bzdelik and Danny Manning in monitoring their daily schedules, as well as the operation of the basketball office. Starting as a temporary assistant when Staak became the head coach in 1985, Heflin did not have a 35-year career in mind, but her ability to build and maintain relationships with coaches and players alike made her a necessary piece of the college athletics puzzle.
Her role was much more than a job. With a title that started as 'secretary' and eventually became administrative assistant, Heflin was truly more like a facilitator. She worked with the ball boys, the coaches and the players. She maintained contact with former players so that they still felt a part of the 'basketball family.' She managed the budget, the ticket lists for games, coaches calendars, requests for autographed basketballs, etc. With no two days being the same, it was her dream job.
Heflin became extremely popular with the Demon Deacon players over her 35 seasons. Her interest in their welfare, both at Wake Forest and after they went on to various careers, was second to none. Some of her favorite memories include interactions during games, especially during their back-to-back ACC Championship run.
"I had a relationship with all the players, and I think that's what I miss the most. Of course, no one misses the hours or the schedule or all the work, but I miss the coaches and the players, the relationships, the most. When you spend so much time with people over the course of so many years, they become part of who you are. The six head coaches and dozens and dozens of student athletes I got to know over the years were all special in one way or another."
A graduate of Mary Washington College where she earned a degree in English, Heflin taught on the junior high level for two years. She then accepted a position with the federal government, where she worked in a variety of areas, including the Pentagon, before coming to Wake Forest.
Award Recipients
"When they told me they were giving me this award, I was stunned and honored," said Heflin. "I would have never thought of myself as someone who would be in consideration for this, but it's nice to be remembered. You don't often think of yourself the way other people think of you. I guess that goes for how I saw Gene. He hired me in 1985, but was more like a father-figure than a boss. It was a simpler time, so he knew everyone and would help anyone who needed it. He wasn't just an athletic director, he made the athletic department family. And family is the most important thing when you do a job that requires 24/7 of you. He was a special person, and was very good to everyone he came in contact with."
Heflin's knowledge of the program and the university was invaluable. She worked closely with head coaches Bob Staak, Dave Odom, Skip Prosser, Dino Gaudio, Jeff Bzdelik and Danny Manning in monitoring their daily schedules, as well as the operation of the basketball office. Starting as a temporary assistant when Staak became the head coach in 1985, Heflin did not have a 35-year career in mind, but her ability to build and maintain relationships with coaches and players alike made her a necessary piece of the college athletics puzzle.
Her role was much more than a job. With a title that started as 'secretary' and eventually became administrative assistant, Heflin was truly more like a facilitator. She worked with the ball boys, the coaches and the players. She maintained contact with former players so that they still felt a part of the 'basketball family.' She managed the budget, the ticket lists for games, coaches calendars, requests for autographed basketballs, etc. With no two days being the same, it was her dream job.
Heflin became extremely popular with the Demon Deacon players over her 35 seasons. Her interest in their welfare, both at Wake Forest and after they went on to various careers, was second to none. Some of her favorite memories include interactions during games, especially during their back-to-back ACC Championship run.
"I had a relationship with all the players, and I think that's what I miss the most. Of course, no one misses the hours or the schedule or all the work, but I miss the coaches and the players, the relationships, the most. When you spend so much time with people over the course of so many years, they become part of who you are. The six head coaches and dozens and dozens of student athletes I got to know over the years were all special in one way or another."
A graduate of Mary Washington College where she earned a degree in English, Heflin taught on the junior high level for two years. She then accepted a position with the federal government, where she worked in a variety of areas, including the Pentagon, before coming to Wake Forest.
Award Recipients
- 2024 - Lynne Heflin, Former Men's Basketball Administrative Assistant
- 2023 – Syd Kitson ('80), Football
- 2021 – Barbara Trautwein, Former Women's Basketball Pep Band Director
- 2019 – John Foster ('78), Former Football Manager
- 2018 – Judge Albert Kirby ('80), Football
- 2017 – Tal Jobe ('67), Men's Basketball
- 2016 – Cook Griffin ('65, P '00), Former Football Manager
- 2015 – Dr. Stephanie Glenn ('77, M.D. '81), Volleyball
- 2014 – Abe Elmore ('55), Former Football Manager
- 2013 – Julie Griffin ('69, P '00), Cheerleader
- 2012 – Bill Faircloth ('64, P '89, P '90, P '93, P '94, GP '19, GP '22, GP '24), Football
- 2011 – Jim Turner ('55), Football
- 2010 – Chip Rives ('87, M.B.A. '89), Football
- 2009 – Jesse Haddock ('52, P '68, GP '97, GP '99*, GP '03), Former Head Men's Golf Coach
- 2008 – Bob McCreary ('61), Football
- 2007 – Dr. Gene Hooks ('50, P '81), Baseball
- Former Director of Athletics Ron Wellman:
- "Lynne Heflin's impact on Wake Forest Athletics cannot be overstated. Throughout her 35 years with our basketball program, she was a constant presence, providing exceptional support to our coaches and players. She built lasting relationships that have stood the test of time, and her dedication went far beyond the office. She was literally everyone's go-to person with anything related to men's basketball. Lynne was a true ambassador for Wake Forest, always putting the team and its people first. It's is wonderful to see her recognized with the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting tribute to her remarkable contributions to our program."
- Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "Lynne Heflin's 35 year career in Wake Forest Athletics exemplifies the best of the care and personal attention provided by unheralded but deeply important Demon Deacon staff members everyday. She's still here at all the ballgames cheering on the Deacs and her unwavering commitment to building relationships, doing good things to make days better for colleagues, and maintaining the strong family culture that defines Wake Forest is what makes her so deserving of the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award. Lynne's legacy within Wake Forest Athletics is enduring, and we are grateful for the lasting impact she has made on the Demon Deacon family."
- Former Men's Basketball Head Coach Dave Odom:
- "Lynne Heflin is one of the most, if not the most, loyal, hardworking, and committed people I've ever been around. She was perfectly capable of running our office and she did just that. I never left town worried about the things that needed to be done because I trusted her with everything I had. Her heart was always in the right place, she loved men's basketball and everything she did was in the best interest of those around her. She had a wonderful demeanor and brought the bright side to the office every single day. She would keep things light and in perspective, especially after a loss. She would handle it as if we won and was always picking everybody up. The season can get so long and if you don't have someone like Lynne to keep things in perspective it's going to be hard. She was wonderful to be around and was very thorough in everything she did. When Coach Prosser came in after I left, I answered all his questions. Then at the very end I told him 'the most important thing is that you keep Lynne Heflin on the job.' He called me back maybe two years later and asked if I remembered that conversation and he said 'you've never been more right in your life.' She was really good, really, really good."
- Men's Basketball General Manager Mike Muse:
- "Lynne Heflin has played a vital role in the Wake Forest basketball family as administrative assistant to six head basketball coaches. Her knowledge of the program and the university was invaluable. More importantly, Lynne Heflin was influential in the lives of Demon Deacon players past and present . Her interest in their welfare, both at Wake Forest and after they go on to various careers, is second to none. She was the gatekeeper of the program and continues to invest in the lives of every player, coach or support staff that she came in contact with. A true Deacon for Life. We are all better because of Lynne Heflin."
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