I did that job for 31 years and rarely made more than one heading change following the heading given by the tower on departure (which is issued by the radar controller by phone). During quiet periods the heading I'd given the tower was enough and I wouldn't change it. The problem is to get the outbound up through inbound traffic downwind for 09L. The techniques are "inside" - i.e. heading from the tower of around 270 to climb up inside the inbounds (not if you're a slow climber on a hot day), or "outside" - heading from the tower of around 220-230 and once past the inbound stream, right on to about 280 and away you go.
14 heading changes?? I accept what you say, but am amazed the guy had the time to read them all out!