ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is saddened to hear the news of the passing of Bob Hiegert.
 
Hiegert was associated with the CCAA for over 50 years as a student-athlete, coach, campus athletics administrator, and conference commissioner from 1997-2013.
 
Hiegert played shortstop for the San Fernando Valley State College, now Cal State Northridge, baseball team from 1959-63, earning the Matadors’ Athlete of the Year award in his final season. He would go on to lead the CSUN baseball program for 18 seasons, accumulating 586 wins, six CCAA Championships, five NCAA regional titles, and NCAA Division II Championships in 1970 and 1984. He would be named the National Coach of the Year in his final season on the bench.
 
Hiegert served as Cal State Northridge’s athletics director from 1978 to 1995, before being named Commissioner of the CCAA in 1997. He held that post until his retirement in 2013. During his time leading the conference, the CCAA saw the addition of nine universities and won 24 NCAA Championships.

"Bob touched the lives of so many student-athletes and administrators as a leader, mentor and friend and his legacy extends far beyond the CCAA," said CCAA Associate Commissioner/SWA Carol Rivera. "He truly cared about people, and it was evident by the way he provided encouragement, support and treated those around him like family. I learned so much from Bob and am grateful to him not only for the opportunity he gave me but for his lasting friendship. He will be greatly missed."
 
Hiegert was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame, the CSUN Hall of Fame, and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame. The baseball field at CSUN is named after him, and the CCAA branded its annual Commissioner's Cup award the Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup.
 
Click here to see Hiegert's CCAA Hall of Fame webpage.