Bobby Heiken enters his 17th year at SOU and 11th as Associate Athletic Director.
As Associate Athletic Director, Heiken oversees all External Operations for the Athletic Department, including fundraising events.
The last five years have each included over $1.5 million being brought in through scholarships and corporate partnerships. The 2016-17 school year featured a $1.5 million gift from Lithia Motors to name the new Lithia Motors Pavilion.
Heiken is also in charge of the all Raider Club events, including the Lithia/Raider Club Golf Shootout and Raider Club Auction.
In his 13 years in charge of the Lithia/Raider Club Golf Shootout, the event has brought in nearly $6 million to SOU Athletics, making it the highest collegiate fundraising golf tournament in the country. The 2024 version of the tournament brought in over $740,000 for SOU student-athletes.
Heiken was also instrumental in signing corporate partnership deals to upgrade the sound system at Raider Stadium and install turf and a new track and Raider Stadium.
Prior to being named Associate Athletic Director, Heiken spend three years as Sports Information Director and two years as Assistant Athletic Director.
A 1997 graduate of Southern Oregon University, Heiken spent over five years at Western State College - an NCAA Division II school in Gunnison, Colo. Originally hired as Sports Information Director at Western State, Heiken was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Media and External Relations after a year at the college.
Heiken graduated from SOU with a degree in Communications/Journalism with an emphasis in Sports Information. During his college years and after graduation, Heiken was an assistant in the Sports Information office.
Following graduation, Heiken spent five years as both a sports reporter and sports editor at the Ashland Daily Tidings. In 2002, Heiken's Sports Section was voted the Top Sports Section in Oregon. Heiken also spent a year working for ESPN Radio in Medford.
Heiken grew up in Mt. Shasta, Calif. and graduated from Mt. Shasta High School in 1993, where he played basketball and football.
Heiken and his wife Sarah are parents to Gabrielle, a junior softball player at SOU.
