Heather Hurt (Robben) was promoted to the fifth head women's basketball coach in East Central University history in December 2022, following nine seasons as an assistant coach with the Tigers. Hurt assumed leadership of the program after former head coach Matt Cole stepped down to become ECU's Director of Athletics.
In the 2025-26 season, Hurt led the Tigers to a 15-12 overall record and an 11-11 mark in Great American Conference play. East Central earned the No. 7 seed in the GAC Women's Basketball Championship Tournament in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the Tigers narrowly fell 66-65 to No. 2 seed Northwestern Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals. Northwestern Oklahoma State went on to win the tournament championship.
The Tigers earned individual and academic recognition during the 2025-26 campaign. Junior forward Katie Edelen received Second-Team All-GAC honors for the second consecutive season, while the program also had an Honorable Mention All-GAC selection. Makenzy Herman was named a GAC Elite Scholar Athlete, and nine Tigers earned recognition on the GAC Academic Honor Roll.
During the 2024-25 season, Hurt guided East Central to a 10-17 overall record and an 8-14 mark in conference play, earning the No. 8 seed in the GAC Championship Tournament. The Tigers advanced to the conference tournament for the second consecutive season before falling to No. 1 seed Southern Nazarene in the quarterfinals. The season was highlighted by two major GAC individual awards. Claira Dannefer became the first player in ECU women's basketball history to earn GAC Freshman of the Year honors, while Katie Edelen was named GAC Newcomer of the Year, marking the second time in program history a Tiger received the award.
In her first full season as head coach in 2023-24, Hurt led the Tigers to a 10-16 overall record and a 6-16 mark in Great American Conference play. Under her leadership, East Central produced a three-time All-GAC Second-Team selection who averaged 16.7 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Tiger in recent program history.
Hurt initially took over the program as interim head coach during the 2022-23 season and guided the Tigers to the No. 7 seed in the GAC Women's Basketball Championship Tournament despite a challenging start to the season.
The Tigers have also continued to emphasize academic success under Hurt's leadership. During the 2022-23 season, three student-athletes earned GAC academic honors, including a GAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and two GAC Elite Scholar Athletes. The women's basketball program has consistently maintained one of the highest cumulative grade-point averages among ECU athletic teams.
Hurt joined the Tiger coaching staff in 2014 and served as an assistant coach for nine seasons before being promoted to head coach. Her experience and familiarity with the program have provided continuity as she leads the Tigers.
Before beginning her coaching career at East Central, Hurt made her mark as a collegiate student-athlete at Hutchinson Community College, Wichita State University and Emporia State University.
During her two-year stint at Emporia State, Hurt served as a graduate assistant coach, helping the Hornets reach two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and win two Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament championships.
As a player at Emporia State, Hurt earned All-MIAA Second-Team honors and helped lead the Hornets to the NCAA Central Regional Championship game. She was also named to the 2012 All-Central Regional Tournament Team.
Prior to her time at Emporia State, Hurt spent one season at Wichita State University after beginning her collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College. As a member of the Blue Dragons, she became the first two-time NJCAA All-American in program history and helped lead the team to the NJCAA National Tournament. In 2020, Hutchinson Community College recognized her accomplishments by inducting her into its Athletics Hall of Fame.
Hurt earned a Master of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation in May 2014 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing in December 2012 from Emporia State University. She also earned an Associate of Arts degree from Hutchinson Community College in May 2010.
Hurt is married to Jon Hurt, and together they have two sons.
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