WPIAL
WPIAL 2026 WR Gabe Hein Finds Perfect Fit at Sacred Heart

When Mars 2026 wide receiver Gabe Hein visited Sacred Heart University last week with his parents, he couldn’t help but envision his future there as a Division I athlete.
After sitting on it for a few days, Hein knew that’s exactly where he wanted to go. He announced his commitment to Sacred Heart, an independent at the FCS level, Tuesday evening.
“Everything about what Sacred Heart had to offer,” Hein told Pittsburgh Sports Now on what stood out about the program. “From their academics, coaching staff, players, and the culture that they have created, I truly felt it was the best place for me to further my football career and grow on and off the field.”
After an amazing visit to Sacred Heart University, I am extremely proud to announce my commitment to @SHU__Football!!! @mark_nofri @CoachGardner_ @CoachPSap @ToddJochem @CoachKasper @MarsHSFootball pic.twitter.com/2qFa9TCre6
— Gabe Hein (@GabeHein8) June 18, 2025
During his visit in Fairfield, Conn., Hein got an in-depth experience of that culture.
“My takeaways were how much each player cares about one another and how much the coaching staff cares about their players. The coaches want what’s best for their players in all aspects of life. That was evident in every interaction I had. The way they work out, practice, and bond was something that I definitely wanted to be apart of,” he said.
During his recruitment process, Hein stopped at schools such as Pitt, Navy, Fordham, Villanova and others for unofficial visits, but it was Sacred Heart that became his only Division I offer in May and he quickly built a relationship with wide receiver coach Pat Saporito
“The first time I talked to him, when he came to Mars High School, I just felt a connection with him. I love to have a good relationship with my coaches. It’s something that I am lucky to have with my high school coaches, and was an important factor when going through the recruiting process. During my visit, through talking with the offensive coordinator, Coach Gardner, and the head coach, Coach Nofri, I knew I wanted to be coached by this staff in the next chapter in my life,” Hein said.
Hein put together a strong junior season with 66 receptions for 939 yards and seven touchdowns on his way to First Team All-Conference honors at receiver. The 6-foot, 175-pounder believes his play style will translate well at Sacred Heart.
“The way they run their offense is similar to how we run our offense at Mars,” he said. “I feel like how I play the game will fit in well there. I will take what I already know from being coached by the great coaching staff I have at Mars and apply it to their offense. When I get to SHU, the coaching staff will without a doubt improve my game way more than I can imagine. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
For more on all the WPIAL offers and commitments check out PSN’s WPIAL Football Recruiting Board here.
