DaytonDailyNews.com

NEW ORLEANS — Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman always does whatever he can to please his offensive coaches.

And when he's away from football, he tries to stay on the good side of defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.

Boeckman has been dating Shannon Heacock, the coach's daughter, for two years. And while the junior from St. Henry has become a regular part of family gatherings, he wasn't sure at first how the relationship would go over.

"I stayed away from him the first couple of months," Boeckman said, laughing.

Shannon Heacock, 24, is a petite Ohio University grad and a second-grade teacher at Tyler Run Elementary School in Columbus. The two were introduced by mutual friends and clicked right away.

"He's nice, calm, laid back, very easygoing," Shannon said. "He's always putting other people before himself. When you're an Ohio State football player, you tend to think you're better than other people. And he's just not like that."

Shannon Heacock has spent nearly every autumn Saturday of her life at her dad's games — first at Washington, then Illinois State and then Ohio State — but she doesn't get much chance to wow Boeckman with her insights.

"Being in a football family, I guess you know things like that," said Boeckman, 23. "But we don't talk a lot about football. When I come home, I want to be done with it."

Jim Heacock is in his 12th year on OSU's staff and was just named the Frank Broyles national assistant coach of the year. And while he's past the point of worrying about job security, Buckeye games are still stressful for the family.

"I've always been nervous when they play because of my dad," Shannon Heacock said. "I used to get a break when the offense was out there, but now it's the whole time."

Shannon has been surprised at the composure Boeckman has shown in his first year as a starter, although he tells her that playing in front of 100,000 fans isn't nearly as demanding as what she does for a living.

"I think I was probably more nervous than he was about (the season). He's good at what he does. And it's like he says: If he had to be put in a second-grade class, he wouldn't know what to do," she said.

There are no wedding plans yet. But Boeckman shouldn't feel any pressure if he has to ask the coach for his daughter's hand in marriage.

"Todd's an unbelievable young man — great character, quality individual, great family," Jim Heacock said. "I don't think you can get much better than him."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com