Ed Heintschel established himself as one of Ohio's most successful high school basketball coaches during his 40-year tenure at Toledo St. John's High School. A graduate of St. Francis DeSales High School (1968) and St. Joseph's College/University of Toledo (1972), Heintschel began his coaching career at St. John's in 1979, initially serving five years as the freshman coach before taking the helm of the varsity program.

From 1979 to 2019, Heintschel compiled an impressive 725-224 record, achieving a .764 winning percentage. His teams reached the Division I state finals three times (1993, 1996, 2004) and made three additional state semifinal appearances (2003, 2006, 2009). Under his leadership, St. John's captured 16 district titles and 17 league championships.

Heintschel's program consistently produced collegiate talent, with more than 20 of his players advancing to NCAA Division I programs. Notable alumni include NBA players John Amaechi, Brian Roberts, and Vincent Williams, Jr., as well as Marc Loving, who was named Ohio Mr. Basketball in 2013 before playing at Ohio State University.

His teams achieved 20 or more wins in 17 different seasons, demonstrating remarkable consistency at the highest level of Ohio high school basketball. The 2012-13 season proved particularly successful, as Heintschel was named both the Associated Press All-Ohio Division I Coach of the Year and the AP All-District Division I Coach of the Year. He had previously earned AP All-District Division I Coach of the Year honors in 2002.

During his four decades at St. John's, Heintschel's teams won district championships in 1991-94, 1996, 1998, 2002-04, 2006-07, 2009-10, 2015, and 2017-18. His league titles came in 1981, 1993-96, 1998-99, 2002-05, 2009, 2012-13, 2015, 2017, and 2018. These achievements established St. John's as a perennial basketball power in northwest Ohio and earned Heintschel recognition as one of the state's premier high school coaches.