Uryasz restructures Tarleton Athletics Administration department, elevates Heier to Deputy AD, O’Quin to Executive Senior Associate AD

STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz announced Friday that he has restructured the Tarleton Athletics Administration department, promoting Eric Heier to Deputy Athletic Director and Dr. Megan O'Quin to Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director / SWA, effective immediately.
"I inherited a tremendous athletic administration full of high-quality professionals who have helped transform Tarleton State into what it is today," Uryasz said. "The new structure better matches a typical NCAA Division I model, creating hierarchy with modified reporting lines. Eric Heier and Dr. Megan O'Quin have been instrumental members for Tarleton's prominent rise, and I can think of no better suitors for these positions."

Heier has been a key figure in Tarleton Athletics since joining the department nearly five years ago and an essential part of the university's reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I.
Heier joined Tarleton Athletics as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Success in March 2020, and was soon elevated to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance in July 2021. Heier has helped Tarleton State thrive in several key areas, including the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR), an important measurement that details how an institution is performing in the areas of academics, graduation, and student-athlete retention. Tarleton State set an unprecedented benchmark in 2021 with a score of 990, the highest mark ever earned by a first-year reclassifying institution.
"I am honored to take on this new role and continue serving Tarleton State in its mission to provide exceptional experiences for its student-athletes," Heier said. "The progress we've made and success we've achieved over the past few years is just the beginning. I'm excited for what the future holds and I'm grateful to Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz for entrusting me with this great responsibility."
Heier has served several programs as the sport supervisor while at Tarleton State, including the volleyball, soccer, men's golf, beach volleyball, tennis, cross country and track and field teams. He will maintain direct oversight of volleyball, beach volleyball, and soccer this season, and will assist Uryasz with sport oversight of the men's basketball program.
"Eric Heier simply 'gets it,'" Tarleton State head football coach Todd Whitten said. "My staff and I love working with Eric. He is in college athletics for the right reasons, which are helping our student athletes graduate and be successful."
In his new role, Heier will serve as the departmental lead in the execution of day-to-day operations, providing leadership, planning, and supervision through the ever-changing landscape of collegiate sports.
"This a well-deserved promotion," Tarleton State head men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie said. "In my time in D1 athletics, Eric is one of the best leaders I have had the pleasure of working with. His guidance and expertise the last four years have been nothing short of brilliant. This is a great move for the Texans."
The American Fork, Utah, native earned an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) and a juris doctor degree from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. Prior to joining Tarleton State, Heier spent time within the respective athletic departments of Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, and Montana State University.
"He's one of the best in the business," Tarleton State head women's soccer head coach Pete Cuadrado said. "Eric is a huge asset to Tarleton State and Tarleton Athletics."

O'Quin is in her fourth year at Tarleton State leading the academic services department for Tarleton Athletics, while also serving as the SWA, roles she will maintain.
"I am both honored and excited to have the opportunity to enhance the success of our student-athletes at Tarleton State in every aspect of their lives," O'Quin said. "I want to express my sincere gratitude to Steve Uryasz for his trust and support. I am confident in Tarleton's commitment to excellence and look forward to helping shape the future of Tarleton Athletics."
O'Quin and her staff have been instrumental in Tarleton State's academic success among the athletic programs since the university reclassified to NCAA Division I. The Texans have had exactly 500 Academic All-WAC honorees over the past four years, and have helped with the previously mentioned record APR scores. Since O'Quin arrived in Stephenville, Tarleton now has 14 teams averaging a 3.0 GPA or better compared to eight teams before.
"I've had the pleasure of working with Dr. O'Quin for several years, and her leadership and vision have always stood out," Tarleton State head women's tennis coach Elianne Douglas-Miron said. "She always puts the needs of our student-athletes first, and her leadership has created a positive culture that benefits every sport. I'm confident her new role will help take us to the next level."
O'Quin has served as the sport supervisor for several programs during her time at Tarleton State, including women's tennis, baseball, women's golf, volleyball, cross country and track and field. She is also the primary academic coordinator for the men's basketball program.
"Dr. O'Quin is one of the most well-rounded administrators I have had the privilege of working with in my 15 years in this profession," Tarleton State head baseball coach Fuller Smith said. "Success certainly leaves clues and our success on and off the field is a byproduct of her steadfast leadership. Dr. O'Quin's promotion is a tribute to her hard work and determination in the field of athletics administration. I am thankful to work alongside her each and every day to facilitate a student-athlete experience that is unmatched in collegiate athletics."
O'Quin joined Tarleton State in the fall of 2021 after spending her previous two years at Eastern Washington. Prior to her time with the Eagles, she spent time in similar capacities at Fresno State, Northern Illinois and Oregon State.
After graduating from Oregon State, O'Quin began her collegiate athletics career in 2003 on the athletics' academic support staff at her alma mater. She elevated to an academic counselor and worked with the football, women's gymnastics, wrestling, softball, swimming, and women's basketball programs. In August of 2014, O'Quin moved on to Northern Illinois University in the role of Associate Director for Student-Athlete Academic Support Services where she remained until January of 2017. While at NIU, O'Quin provided leadership and assisted with supervision, training, and performance evaluation of the department's academic coordinators and administrative staff. She worked directly with the school's basketball programs and supervised the Life Skills Program.
O'Quin moved back west in January 2017 for a position at Fresno State, where she spent two years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services. There she established an academic program which produced on average the highest recorded academic year in the school's history - including the most Mountain West Athletic Conference Academic Scholars and the highest team grade point averages and APR numbers.
While at Eastern Washington University, O'Quin oversaw the student-athlete academic services program that continued their academic streak of earning 14 consecutive years with an all student-athlete quarter GPA above a 3.00. Even though it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Quin continued the high expectation of academic support services, as well as increased the life-skills programming.
"Since Dr. O'Quin's arrival to Tarleton, our athletics department academic services have been improved exponentially," Tarleton State head women's golf coach Isabel Jimenez said. "We have built one of the best student-athlete academic success labs in the state, academic services such as tutoring and advising have been revamped, and we have built a safe and successful academic environment for our student-athletes. When it comes to our student-athletes' development, Dr. O'Quin is a go-getter. My team and I have been fortunate to have her as our sport supervisor for the past few years and her guidance and expertise have definitely helped me become a better coach for my athletes. I am very excited to see the great things she will continue to accomplish in her new role."
O'Quin will maintain her sports administration duties for baseball and women's tennis this season.
Originally from Tigard, Oregon, O'Quin received her bachelor's degree in liberal studies with a minor in sociology and athletic administration from Oregon State. She received her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration on adult education, ethnic studies, and sociology from OSU in 2011. In 2020, O'Quin earned her doctorate degree in educational leadership from Fresno State.

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