After placing third in the state at 112 pounds in 1960 and at 120 pounds in 1961 for Evergreen Park High School, Tom Heniff continued his wrestling career at the University of Pittsburgh.

His coaching career began with six years as an assistant at Lockport Central High School before he moved to Oak Lawn Richards High School in 1972.

During his coaching career at Oak Lawn Richards, his teams have won six SECA North team champions, five district titles, four sectional titles and state championships in 1975 and 1977. Heniff's team finished second in the state in 1976, third in 1978 and sixth in 1979. He coached 20 individual state place-winners, including five state champions.

Heniff served as president of the SECA Conference for two terms and began serving on the board of directors in 1976. He was a member of the state advisory board and coached in the first and only all-star meet in Illinois with Chuck Farina, George Girard and Charlie Anderson.

He was a district chairman for Illinois Wrestling Federation and a team leader, assistant freestyle coach and head Greco-Roman coach for Federation Nationals. Heniff was head coach for two cultural exchange trips and officiated both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the national tournament in Iowa City.