Elaine Heflin enters her third season as an assistant coach for the Redbirds in 2024, after joining the staff in the 2021-22 season. She primarily focuses on pitching and recruiting coordination. 

Heflin comes to Illinois State after a two year coaching stint at University of Illinois at Chicago, her alma mater, where she mainly managed, coached and developed pitchers as well as oversaw academic development and recruiting. Heflin helped coach the UIC Flames to 2021 Horizon League Tournament Champions. Under her tutelage, pitcher Marley Hanlon was named 2021 Horizon League Tournament MVP and posted the lowest individual ERA in the Horizon League (min. 100 IP). 

Prior to beginning her coaching career, Heflin had a stellar four years at UIC as a pitcher. In her career at UIC, she was a three-year recipient of the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year award (2015, 2016, 2017). She also earned NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Third Team twice and NFCA All-Great Lakes Regional Second Team once. Following her outstanding senior season, posting a 2.08 ERA with 151 K in 141.1 IP, Heflin was nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2017.

The Downers Grove, Ill. native graduated from UIC with a degree in Criminal Justice and continued her education at University of Arkansas. Heflin was a graduate assistant for the softball team as well as the Center for Community Engagement as she worked towards her master's degree in Public Administration.