Ashley Heidelberger rejoins Idaho soccer after five years at Bryant University. At Bryant University, Ashley mentored four-time first-team all-conference defender, Jamine Irwin and NEC Goalkeeper of the Year, Megan Dalton. During her time at Bryant, the team reached the semifinals in the Northeast Conference Championship twice and boasted an undefeated conference season (7-0-3) in 2019. Following the 2022 season, Heidelberger was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach.
Heidelberger spent two seasons at the University of Hawaii from 2016-17 where she acted as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. During her time at Hawaii, the team had a seven-win improvement from the 2015 to the 2016 season marking the fifth-best improvement in NCAA DI. The program also earned its first-ever NSCAA West Region Ranking, peaking at the No. 4 spot.
Before Hawaii, Heidelberger served as an assistant coach at Brown University from 2014-2016. The program finished third in the Ivy League in 2015 and produced six All-Ivy selections in the two seasons.
No stranger to Moscow, Heidelberger was a member of the Idaho soccer staff for three years from 2011-2014. Heidelberger served as the assistant coach, helping lead the Vandals to the WAC Tournament each season. She was part of the staff that led Idaho to the program's first win in a conference tournament game in 2011. Heidelberger mentored six first-team All-WAC honorees including Idaho Hall of Fame inductee, Chelsea Small.
Heidelberger was a dual-sport athlete who competed through graduate school and undergrad in track and soccer. She earned her master's degree in sport management from the University of San Francisco. At USF, she was crowned second-team All-WCC, team captain, 2010 Team MVP, and 2009 Defensive MVP on the soccer squad. On the track, she held the school record in the 800m for a period of time and earned gold at the WCC Championships.Â
Before USF, Heidelberger earned her bachelor's in business at the University of Connecticut. At UConn, she was named to the Big East All-Tournament Team in 2008 and helped lead the team to three straight NCAA appearances from 2005-07. She was a member of the squad that reached the NCAA Elite 8 in 2007. On the track, the team was crowned Indoor Track and Field Big East Champions and was part of the 4x800 relay team that previously held the school record.
Heidelberger holds a USSF B License and an Advanced National Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches Association. She hails from Broad Brook Connecticut and is joined by her family in Moscow. Her husband, Nick is a Moscow Native and a University of Idaho alumni. Their two kids are named Gavin and Sydney.
