In 2009, Javier Heridia began his career of coaching at Bishop Noll High School (BNHS) in Hammond. At BNHS, Heridia was the assistant boys varsity coach and loved every aspect of his job. Heridia continued to work at BNHS until 2013 when he was granted a new position as the varsity boys basketball assistant coach at Indiana University Northwest (IU Northwest).
At IU Northwest, Heridia was the assistant varsity boys basketball coach for three years before being offered his current position as the head varsity coach. As of today, Heridia is the head boys basketball coach and is now in his sixth year of coaching the IU Northwest varsity boys' basketball team. When Heridia found out he was receiving the head coach position, he was ready to take that next step in his career and felt beyond ecstatic.
When Heridia reflects on why his biggest passion in life is basketball, he believes it stems from two distinct places: growing up playing basketball and being able to create memorable relationships that last lifetimes.
“What I love the most about basketball as a sport is the comradery and building relationships with the student-athletes and other coaches. Basketball is what I grew up playing and it really is the sport I truly love,” said Heridia.
In fact, since Heridia was in first grade he’s played basketball. In high school, Heridia played for his high school’s varsity basketball team and as well in college. For Heridia, his passion for basketball really began when he would play basketball outside with his neighborhood friends as an adolescent.
As the head varsity coach, Heridia’s responsibility on the court is to keep his players motivated, educated, and safe. Off the court: Heridia recruits new players, creates the schedules for the games and the student-athletes, manages the IU Northwest boys basketball team’s budget, makes sure his student-athletes have good grades, and meets with his players regularly to make sure they are both athletically and mentally sound. Out of all the responsibilities Heridia has within his career, he believes the recruitment process to be his favorite.
“I think the best part about coaching is recruiting the student-athletes. Helping them throughout the college process and experience, I really enjoy seeing them win on and off the court,” Heridia said.
About two weeks ago the boy's basketball season ended for IUN during one of their sectional games. In Heridia’s opinion seeing his senior student-athletes leave the court and graduate is not a moment he becomes sorrowful for, but a moment of delightful pride and respect.
“I always end our final game with a speech, this game I said that the journey doesn’t stop here. I will always have your back, I love you all, and my phone number never changes,” said Heridia.
Back in 2019, Heridia was awarded the Coach of the Year award. For him, this moment was a major accomplishment. Heridia greatly accepted the award with so much thankfulness and to this day thanks the great season his team had, the basketball program at IU Northwest, and his coaching staff for the award.
This past January, Heridia’s basketball team reached a new record of winning 100 games. For Heridia this moment felt very surreal and in turn, he felt very appreciated and accomplished in his nine-year career at IU Northwest.
“To be known for such a strong basketball team and work our way up to have that status is an amazing accomplishment. Seeing the progress of the basketball program, it’s just been really cool to take a look back and see how far we’ve come,” Heridia said.
Aside from being a basketball coach, Heridia spends his time being a cheer dad to his daughter, volunteering at IU Northwest and community outreach programs, assisting with intramural athletics at IUN for the whole school year, and spending time with his family.
Heridia would like everyone to know that he loves his current position as the head coach of the boy's basketball team and that IU Northwest has great athletic programs.