A native of West Virginia,[1] Heater attended Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio.

Heater played at the running back position for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football team from 1972 to 1974.

The darting sophomore gained 89 yards, 59 of them in the third quarter when he scored on a 13-yard run off left tackle to give Michigan a 28-0 lead.

The Chicago Tribune reported: "You know why Chuck Heater, the Michigan back, got in Coach Bo Schembechler's doghouse?

[7][8] The Wolverines compiled a record of 41–3–1 during Heater's four years with the team and won or tied for the Big Ten Conference championship every season.

[8] After completing his senior year at Michigan, Heater was selected to play as a running back for the Blue team in the 1974 Blue–Gray Football Classic.

He signed with the Saints in June 1975,[10] but he was released in early September 1975, shortly before the opening game of the regular season.

Northern Arizona running back Carl Golden also led the Big Sky Conference in rushing in 1976.

"[1] In December 1976, after completing one season at Northern Arizona, Heater was hired by the University of Toledo near his hometown of Tiffin, Ohio.

"[17][18] Heater remained with Colorado State for two years but left after the 1992 season when Earl Bruce was fired as the team's head coach.

In February 1994, after the NCAA eliminated the position of recruiting coordinator, McCartney hired Heater as his defensive secondary coach.

[22] He remained the tight ends coach at Colorado for four years from 1995 to 1998 and also resumed his duties as recruiting coordinator in 1998.

[7] In January 1999, Heater followed Rick Neuheisel to the University of Washington, accepting a positions as cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.

[25][26] In February 2005, Heater followed Urban Meyer to the University of Florida as cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.

[7] In January 2013, Heater returned home to West Virginia as the new defensive coordinator under head coach and long time friend Doc Holliday.

[33] In March 2019, Heater returned to Florida to serve in an off-field role under head coach Dan Mullen.

[34] In January 2020, Heater was re-hired as the defensive coordinator at Colorado State, reuniting him with head coach Steve Addazio.