When it comes to basketball, former Bulldog girls program Head Coach Justin Hegna has been involved in the sport at a high level from nearly every angle. That lifetime of achievements led Hegna to being inducted into the 2022 class of the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Honor.

“I am very humbled by a statewide award like this,” Hegna said recently, as he reflected on his many years in the sport. “But really it comes down to the staff you work with.”

As a player at Becker High School, Hegna was a prolific scorer, even becoming the all time leading scorer in Becker boys basketball history. As a Junior in 1990, Hegna led Coach Tim Zimmerman’s team in scoring as the Bulldogs claimed their first ever District Championship.  The next year, the Bulldogs made their first appearance in the state tournament with Hegna again leading the way, being named the St Cloud Times Player of the Year and also being named to the All-State team by the Full Court Press publication.

He held the Minnesota state record for three pointers in a career (298) and season (128) until 1999, when schedules were expanded to include several extra games each year.

Hegna later returned to the Bulldogs, teaching in the Becker district for 17 years and serving as head coach of the girls basketball program for eight seasons.

During that time, Hegna was named Section Coach of the Year three times and Class AAA Coach of the Year in 2007, when the Bulldogs won their first ever state title in girls basketball and finished with a record of 31-1.

In 2001, Hegna and fellow teacher Scott Brake started a basketball book, which included previews for all the teams in the state, as well as bios of the top prospects.

Hegna later took over control of the company and that publication grew into Breakdown Sports USA, which is now one of the largest media and event companies in the Midwest.  In addition to basketball, Hegna’s company also publishes complete guides on high school volleyball, boys and girls hockey, softball and baseball.

Breakdown Sports also hosts in-season, as well as summer and fall events, currently featuring over 200 sanctioned high school games and nearly 3,000 teams that participate in the summer events.

He currently has plans for expansion of his business across the upper Midwest.

“Like anything in life, personal awards are a reflection of the people you have work with you,” Hegna said. “So for Breakdown this goes to all of them as well, that makes me the most proud.”

With his entry into the Hall of Honor, Hegna will join dozens of others who have helped to improve and promote the game of basketball in Minnesota.  Awards are given in four categories, including Officials, Media, Coaches and Friends of Basketball.  Hegna will be inducted as part of the Media group, as well as a Friend of Basketball.

While he is obviously proud of his business success, Hegna is quick to point out the Becker community as having had a great influence on his life.

“On a personal level, I owe a lot my success to the Becker Community,” Hegna said. “The mentors and most influential people came from Becker when I was a student, then as a teacher and coach.  Dwight Lundeen, Steve Hill, Nancy Helmer, Butch Liestman and Tim Zimmerman impacted me in life aspects that I followed and applied to my life.”

Hegna and the rest of this year’s honorees were presented with a plaque at the MBCA Fall Clinic Awards Luncheon at the Mpls. Hyatt Regency, Friday, October 28, 2022.