Grace Heeps has joined the Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball program as an assistant coach and its director of basketball operations, Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh announced today, Nov. 9. A former standout on the collegiate hardwood in the Northeast, Heeps will now work alongside two of her former coaches from her time at Canisius University in Nusseibeh and EMU Assistant Coach Shareese Ulis.
“Grace is someone I have known for a long time, and I could not be any more excited that she is now an Eastern Michigan Eagle,” Nusseibeh said. “Her relentless work ethic, contagious energy, and passion for mentorship are innate qualities that will elevate us immediately. She is a young coaching star in this profession and will be a tremendous asset to our program.”
“I am incredibly grateful to Coach Sahar and the administration for this amazing opportunity to join the Eastern Michigan family,” Heeps said. “I am so excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work for Coach Sahar, be a part of her staff, and I am ready to get to work.”
Heeps came to Ypsilanti following two years with MAC rival University of Massachusetts-Amherst where she worked as an academic counselor for Minutemen and Minutewomen programs. During her time, she worked closely with student-athletes on academic success, NCAA eligibility and personal development while helping coordinate support services and resources.
Heeps began her collegiate career on the hardwood at the University at Albany where she competed for the Great Danes from 2020-23 and served as the team’s captain in both her junior and senior campaigns. A starter in 82 of her 84 career games with UAlbany, she helped the team reach the 2022 NCAA Tournament before competing in the 2023 WNIT as well. The recipient of the prestigious America Easter Elite 18 Award (2022-23), Heeps ranked among the top of the America East in assists and minutes played as well. Academically, she graduated summa cum laude from UAlbany with a bachelor’s degree in communications and minors in psychology and leadership.
Following her time in Albany, she played one season (2023-24) under Nusseibeh at Canisius where she started all 31 games and led the team in steals while breaking the Golden Griffins’ single-season record for minutes played. She graduated from CU in 2024 with a Master of Science in Sport Administration degree.
While leading her teams on the court and in the classroom, Heeps was active in the community as well. During her playing career with UAlbany, she worked with AIM Services as a community habilitation worker while also serving with two basketball programs in the Albany area. She got her start with Zero Gravity Basketball as she served on the administrative and admission staff as a liaison between the director and coaches among other daily duties to ensure events ran smoothly. She also served as the director of Havoc Academy Youth Basketball Development that organized skills clinics, practices, and games for girls aged 8-15. She guided a staff of six coaches during her time to help promote player development and community engagement.
A native of East Greenbush, N.Y., Heeps was a two-year varsity basketball letterwinner at Northfield Mount Hermon High School where she served as the team’s captain and averaged 12.0 points per game before being named an NEPSAC Class A All-Star and earned an invitation to the Team USA U17 Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. Prior to NMHHS, she attended Columbia High School and was a team captain as well.
https://emueagles.com/news/2026/11/9/womens-basketball-grace-heeps-added-to-emu-wbb-coaching-staff
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