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Joe Heinz, a longtime coach and administrator who rose to become commissioner of the CIF San Diego Section, died Tuesday afternoon from complications after suffering a stroke. He was 56.
Heinz had been in charge of the section office since 2020. He guided San Diego’s high school sports programs through the COVID-19 pandemic and into an age of increased participation numbers.
“Joe was Kevin Bacon, the guy everyone was connected to, the guy that brought everyone together,” said Otay Ranch High School athletic director Judd Rachow, Heinz’s brother-in-law. “He was respected and admired, not just in San Diego, but statewide.He had a reputation for being professional and fair. He had an even-keel personality that made him perfect for the job.
“He was one of one.”
Heinz played football at Chula Vista High School and San Diego State, where he blocked for Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk. Heinz coached at Chula Vista before moving into administration. He spent 15 years as coordinator of athletics for the Sweetwater School District before being hired as a commissioner.
The job of a section commissioner is a busy one. Heinz attended Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for Chula Vista’s new football stadium; three days later, he was in attendance for the Metro Conference Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Olympian High School.
Chula Vista coaching legend Gary Chapman called Heinz “the best football captain I’ve ever had.”
“This is an absolute gut punch,” Chapman said. “I feel like I’ve lost a son. The CIF has had great leadership over the years, but I feel this group is the best.”
That group includes Todd Cassen, Ron Marquez, Stacy Fisher and the newly hired Cristina Byrne.
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“The way they treat people is amazing,” Chapman said. “Other sections have great staffs, but this group, this office was close. It was a family.”
Marquez spoke Wednesday from the CIF offices, where employees were still coming to terms with Heinz’s passing. Heinz recently underwent hip replacement surgery and had lost 100 pounds.
“I’m in the office this morning waiting for Joe to walk in the door and brighten everyone’s day,” said Marquez, the CIF San Diego Section’s associate commissioner. “This is all so surreal. “One of his final things was attending the opening of the new Chula Vista stadium. He loved that school.”
Heinz followed Jerry Schniepp as San Diego Section commissioner, beating out 10 other candidates for the top job.At the time, Tim Glover – head of the selection committee – said Heinz was selected for “his skills, passion, wealth of experience and innovative ideas.”
Before he was hired, Heinz served as president of the San Diego High School Sports Association and six years on the San Diego Section Coordinating Council.
The San Diego Section was to host its annual Athletic Leadership Symposium on Monday, which is a requirement for administrators of all county schools. That event has been postponed.
Heinz is survived by his wife, Chula Vista High School principal Jennifer Baker-Heinz, as well as a son and two daughters.
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Services are pending.
CIF San Diego Section commissioners
1960-76: Don Clarkson
1976-96: Kendall Webb
1996-01: Jan Jessop
2001-11: Dennis Ackerman
2011-2020: Jerry Schniepp
2020-2026: Joe Heinz
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This story was originally published September 23, 2026 at 12:04 PM.