University of Northern Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller has had to adjust his hands-on approach a little bit this spring. Heller is still recovering from several broken bones and other injuries he suffered after being hit by a piece of equipment while working on the baseball diamond this past fall.
Heller’s team returns home Wednesday to play on that diamond for the first time this season after a spring break trip to Florida. Heller recently got rid of his arm sling and looks forward to more progress. He says he goes back to the doctor Wednesday to see if all the bones in his collar bone have healed, and if that’s the case, he says he hopes to start rehabbing and get his strength back.
Heller says, “I’m doing okay and trying to tough it out.” Heller says he’s had to adjust his coaching style this spring. Heller says he was definitely less active as he wasn’t able to throw batting practice or hit ground balls. He says his assistants have done a good job. Heller says it was a different scenario not being able to be so active and says, “Hopefully makes me a better coach down the line.”
U-N-I is 10-9 after going 3-7 on the spring break trip.