2nd year at Illinois Central College
Alma Mater: Indiana University
Hall of Fame player Heather Cassady is in her 2nd year as an assistant for the ICC women's basketball program. Cassady works primarily with the guards and also specializes in individual workouts, working with a variety of players in the Peoria area. Besides player development, she also enjoys sharing her knowledge on leadership and motivation.
Prior to joining Karrie Redeker's staff, Cassady coached at Dunlap High School (2013-23), winning 170 games along with winning an outright Mid-Illini Conference title in 2021. She also served as the head coach at Richwoods High School for one season (2012-13), leading the Knights to a 26-7 record, a Class 3A super-sectional berth, and a Mid-State 6 Conference championship. Cassady also has college coaching experience as she was an assistant coach at Indiana State for four years, helping the Sycamores win an MVC title during her tenure.
She starred at Indiana University from 1998-2002, where she totaled 1,301 points, 411 assists, and led the Hoosiers to a Big Ten Tourney championship. Cassady was a three-year captain, two-time All-Big Ten selection, and also named to the All-Big Ten Academic Team three times while with the Hoosiers. Upon graduation, Heather was drafted by the New York Liberty and went on to play professionally in Greece.
While an athlete at Dunlap, Heather was a three-time Peoria Journal Star Class A Player of the Year and finished runner-up for Ms. Basketball in 1998. She led the Eagles to a fourth place finish in the Class A state tournament, Dunlap’s first ever state basketball tournament appearance. For her prep career, she tallied 1,945 points, 927 assists, and 525 steals.
Cassady is a member of two Halls of Fame for her playing accomplishments, as she was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Greater Peoria Sports’ Hall of Fame in 2013.
Heather works at the Children’s Home and resides with her wife and dog in Peoria.
Updated: 7-17-24
