Heather Zurich joined head coach Stephanie Oliver's staff in June 2015. Prior to joining the Blackbirds, she spent four seasons as an assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara, from 2010-14.

In her first season at UCSB, Zurich helped lead the Gauchos in a historic run that culminated in their 14th Big West Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. 

Prior to her time out west, Zurich spent one season at Northeast Conference rival Wagner, where she worked primarily on post player development and assisted with guards.

The New Jersey native joined the Seahawks' staff after a professional playing career in the Netherlands, which followed a standout career at Rutgers under legendary Hall of Fame head coach C. Vivian Stringer.

Zurich was a part of 102 victories and four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament while in Piscataway, N.J., helping the Scarlet Knights to four Sweet Sixteen, two Elite Eight and one Final Four appearance from 2005-2009.

As a sophomore in 2006-2007, her Rutgers' squad won the program's first BIG EAST Tournament title before advancing to the NCAA title game against Tennessee.

As a senior, Zurich served as team captain and turned in arguably her finest performance in an 80-52 upset of No. 2 seed Auburn in the NCAA's Round of 32. The Garden State native scored 12 points, on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, while limiting SEC Player of the Year and current WNBA Player DeWanner Bonner to 17 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Her success was not limited to the court, as Zurich was named to the Big East Academic All Star Team as a senior and was a member of the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Following graduation, she played a season with Auto-Cad Amazone in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Zurich helped Amazone to a 16-13 record and a fourth place finish in the Dames Eredivisie in The Netherlands with a 15-11 divisional record.

A Montvale, N.J., native earned her bachelor's degree from Rutgers in 2009.