Terry Heffernan

Terry Heffernan is in his second season as the offensive line coach and in 2024 he added the title of offensive run game coordinator to his responsibilities for the Cavaliers.

During his first season on Grounds, Heffernan coached an offensive line unit that was hampered by multiple injuries. Dayton graduate transfer Brian Stevens, who started the season at guard (two games), earned All-ACC honors as a center. He sported the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade (77.3) for centers in the country and was the top-graded run-blocking center in the ACC. He allowed one sack in 476 opportunities according to PFF.

Prior to coming to Virginia, he spent two seasons  (2021-22) as the offensive line coach at Stanford for head coach David Shaw.

Before coaching on The Farm, Heffernan spent two years with the Buffalo Bills, helping them to the AFC Championship Game during the 2020 season. In total, he has five years of NFL coaching experience, having spent three seasons (2013-15) with the Detroit Lions.

Heffernan also brings 14 years of collegiate coaching experience to UVA. In addition to his time at Stanford, he served as Eastern Kentucky’s assistant head coach and offensive line coach in 2016-17, before a promotion to associate head coach and offensive line coach in 2018.

Prior to his time with the NFL’s Lions, Heffernan spent six seasons at Wayne State. The first five he was the offensive line coach before moving to offensive coordinator in 2012.

Before his time at Wayne State, he served as a graduate assistant coach at both Louisville (2004-05) and Michigan (2005-07).

Heffernan graduated from Dayton with a degree in communications in 2003 and was a four-year football student-athlete.

He and his wife, Jamie, have two sons, Connor and Casey, and a daughter, Regan.