Lewis University Athletics

Hegarty began coaching at Lincoln-Way High School in 1993 where she was an assistant coach. She coached the boys and girls track and field programs in the long jump and triple jump events until 2001. She also joined the school's girls swimming program as an assistant coach from 1994-1997.

Hegarty then became the assistant coach for the Lincoln-Way East girls' cross-country team in 2001, when the school opened, until 2004 when the team captured second place at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Championships. Hegarty then got promoted to head coach the following season, which is where she has been ever since.

During her time coaching cross-country, Hegarty was also an assistant coach for the boys and girls track and field program in 2002 before being promoted to head coach in 2005 for distance events. She was an assistant coach in girls' track from 2007-2013 and recorded a second-place state finish in 2011 and won the state championship in 2013. 

She helped lead Lincoln-Way East to back-to-back sectional championships in 2008 and 2009. 

In the 2014 season as head coach of the distance runners in the girl's track program, Lincoln-Way East won the IHSA State Championship. As a result of the success in 2014, Hegarty was named Illinois Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association (ITCCCA) 
Girls Track Coach of the Year. 

In over 24 years of coaching cross country, Hegarty's teams have qualified for state championships 14 times and have had individuals qualify six times.

Prior to coaching, Hegarty graduated from Lewis University in 1992 after being a four-year member of the Flyers' track and field teams. She participated in the long jump, triple jump, 100m and 200m events along with relays.