Wade Heggie

Bio

Entering his fourth season as head coach of the Meridian Community College men's and women's swimming & diving programs, Wade Heggie continues to elevate the Eagles both in and out of the pool. A longtime leader in Mississippi swimming, Heggie made history by launching the state's first community college swimming & diving program and has quickly established MCC as a nationally competitive and academically successful program.

During the 2025-26 season, Heggie guided the MCC men's team to a 10th-place finish and the women's team to an 11th-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships. The Eagles also excelled in the classroom, earning CSCAA Fall Team Scholar All-America honors. Both the men's and women's programs finished with the highest team GPA in the NJCAA, marking the first time in program history that Meridian Community College claimed the top academic ranking at the national junior college level.

In recognition of his leadership within the sport, Heggie was recently elected President of the NJCAA Swimming & Diving Coaches Association, further solidifying his role as one of the leading voices in junior college swimming.

An MCC alumnus, Heggie began his swimming career with the Meridian Swimming Association at the age of nine, competing for nine years and earning multiple state championships in breaststroke events. His coaching career began in 1991 as a part-time assistant while still in high school, and he continued coaching throughout college before becoming a full-time assistant and later being named head coach of the Meridian Swimming Association in 2004.

As a club coach, Heggie has helped develop swimmers who have gone on to compete at every collegiate level, including numerous state champions and state record holders. During his tenure at MCC, he has coached CSCAA All-Americans, CSCAA Scholastic All-Americans, NJCAA Scholastic All-Americans, and multiple nationally recognized academic teams.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Heggie serves as the Fitness Center Director at Meridian Community College. He earned his associate degree from MCC, a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Mississippi State University, and a master's degree in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Heggie remains actively involved in the governance and growth of swimming throughout Mississippi and nationally. He has served Mississippi Swimming in numerous leadership positions, including Safety Chair, General Chair, Administrative Vice Chair, and Club Development Chair. He also serves on national committees for USA Swimming, including the Operational Risk and LSC Development Committees.

In 2017, Heggie received the USA Swimming Outstanding Service Award in recognition of his contributions to the sport throughout Mississippi.

He and his wife, Erica, reside in Meridian and have two children, Megan and Matthew.