Current position | |
---|---|
Title | Head coach |
Team | Emporia State |
Conference | MIAA |
Record | 108–80 |
Annual salary | $142,676 [1] |
Biographical details | |
Born | Blackwell, Oklahoma, U.S. | October 11, 1968
Playing career | |
1987–1990 [2] | Emporia State |
Position(s) | Quarterback |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1992–1993 | Northeastern State (GA) |
1994–1996 | Northwestern Oklahoma State (RB/QB) |
1997–1999 | Northwestern Oklahoma State (OC) |
2000–2004 | Northwestern Oklahoma State |
2005 | Minnesota State–Mankato (co-OC) |
2006 | Northeastern State (OC) |
2007–present | Emporia State |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 159–89 |
Bowls | 4–1 |
Tournaments | 7–5 (NAIA playoffs) 3–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
5 CSFL (2000–2004) | |
Awards | |
5× CSFL Coach of the Year (2000–2004) | |
Garin Higgins (born October 11, 1968) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Emporia State University, a position he has held since 2007. Higgins previously served as the head football coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University from 2000 to 2004. His Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers finished as runners-up in the NAIA Football National Championship in 2000 and 2003. [3] Higgins worked as co-offensive coordinator at Minnesota State University, Mankato and offensive coordinator at Northeastern State University in 2006.
Higgins was born in Blackwell, Oklahoma, on October 11, 1968, where he was an all-state quarterback for the Blackwell High School football team. [4] After graduating high school in 1987, Higgins attended Emporia State University, where he was the quarterback for the football team. [5] While at Emporia State, Higgins helped lead the team to the 1989 NAIA championship game where they lost to Carson–Newman. [6]
After graduating Emporia State in 1992, Higgins served as a graduate assistant at Northeastern State University from 1992 through the 1993 season. [7] In 1994, Higgins left for Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) in where he held several positions from 1995 to 1999 including the running backs and quarterbacks coach for the first three seasons, and then moving to offensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999 before being named head coach in after the 1999 season. [8]
On February 14, 2000, Higgins was promoted to head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State. [9] Coming off of a championship season, [10] Higgins led the Rangers to a 13–1 overall, 5–0 in conference play season, which in return led them being the Central States Football League champions and earned them a NAIA runners-up. [11] The next season, 2001, turned out to be another winning season. Higgins led the Rangers to another conference title, ending the season in the first round of the NAIA postseason with an overall record of 7–3, 4–0 in conference play. [12] In 2002, Higgins led the Rangers to another conference championship with a record of 11–1 overall, 4–0 in conference play, advancing the team to the NAIA quarterfinals. [13]
The following season in 2003, the Rangers won their fifth straight conference championship and advanced finished the season with an overall record of 11–2, 5–0 in conference play earning the runners-up in the NAIA. [14] In 2004, Higgins' last season with the Rangers, the team won their sixth straight conference championship finishing the season in the first round of the NAIA postseason and an overall record of 9–2, 7–0 in conference play. [15] Higgins finished his career at NWOSU with an overall record of 51–9, 25–0 in conference play with a winning percentage of .850. On January 5, 2006, Higgins resigned to become the co-offensive coordinator at Minnesota State–Mankato. [16] In 2006, Higgins returned to Northeastern State to serve as the offensive coordinator for one season. [17]
On December 14, 2006, Higgins was introduced as the 24th head football coach of Emporia State University, [18] replacing Dave Wiemers who resigned after three consecutive losing seasons. [19] On September 1, 2007, the Hornets opened the season with a 7–3 win over the Western State Colorado Mountaineers, securing his' first win as a coach at his alma mater. [20] Higgins led the Hornets to their first 3–0 season since 2003, but that quickly ended once they began conference play losing their final eight games. [21] The Hornets finished 3–8 overall, 1–8 in conference play. [22] The following season in 2008, Higgins led the Hornets to a 4–7 overall, 2–7 in conference play season with their only two conference wins against Fort Hays State and Truman. [23]
During his third year as head coach of the Hornets, Higgins led his team to the program's lowest overall winning record since 1980 – 2–8. [24] The next season, however, Higgins turned the program around and finished the next two seasons 5–6 overall, and 3–6 in conference play. [25]
During his sixth season at Emporia State, the university had undergone a leadership change. [26] With the new leadership change, came a new atmosphere on campus and Higgins led the Hornets to their first winning season since 2003. [27] The Hornets started the season off strong winning their first eight games – the program's first since 1988 [28] – earning them national rankings as well for the first time since 2003. In the first five games, the Hornets scored 30+ points per game. [29] Finishing 10–2 overall, 9–2 in conference play led Higgins to secure a second-place finish in the MIAA and a bid to the Kanza Bowl where they defeated the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas 45–38. [30] Quarterback Tyler Eckenrode finished his career at Emporia State with school records and as a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. [31]
After a successful season and losing a record-breaking quarterback, [32] the Hornets were chosen to finish in seventh place in the MIAA preseason polls. [33] The Hornets also were starting to receive votes for national rankings, as well. [34] Higgins led the Hornets to another 8–0 start, scoring 35+ points a game. [35] The No. 10 Hornets' winning streak was again snapped to the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. [36] The Hornets won their next game after against Washburn. Finishing regular season play, Higgins led the Hornets to a 9–1 overall, 9–1 in conference play, advancing to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2003. [37] The Hornets lost to the Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs 55–13. [38]
Starting his eighth season, the Hornets began the year ranked No. 22 in the preseason AFCA poll. [39] Facing injuries from last season, the Hornets started off with a win against Missouri Southern. [40] Following the first win of the season, the Hornets moved to No. 19 in the polls, but would quickly decline after losing the next two games. The Hornets would go on to win the next two games, but would then lose the next two. The Hornets won one more before losing the last two games, finishing the season 4–7 both overall and in conference play. [41]
After having their first losing season since 2011, Higgins was quickly able to get the program winning again during his ninth season. The Hornets started the season 6–0, scoring 38+ points in the first five games, and quickly regained their national rankings after being unranked for a year. [42] The second game of the season against Central Missouri was suspended at halftime due to severe weather. [43] At the time the game was suspended, the Hornets were tied with the Mules at 24. [44] The Hornets defeated the Mules two days later 45–34. [45] In the last four games of the season, the Hornets went 3–1, losing to Northwest Missouri State again. [46] Finishing the regular season play, Higgins led the Hornets to a 9–2 overall and in conference play. The Hornets once again returned to the NCAA playoffs winning the first two games, and falling to Northwest Missouri State in the third round. [47] Quarterback Brent Wilson was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, making him the second Hornet in three years to be named a finalist. [48]
Starting in his tenth season with the Hornets, Higgins began the season with Northwest Missouri State – the first time two nationally ranked teams kicked off the football season inside Francis G. Welch Stadium since it opened in 1937. [49] After Wilson graduated, the quarterback position was open. Higgins selected a redshirt sophomore who had played in during his freshman year when both Wilson and the back-up quarterback were injured. [50] Emporia State opened the season ranked No. 24 nationally and lost its first game against No. 1 and eventual National Champion Northwest Missouri State. [51] From there, the Hornets won the rest of the regular season play finishing the regular season ranked No. 9 and a 10–1 overall and in conference play record. [52] The Hornets also hosted an NCAA Division II playoff game for the first time in school history (the last playoff game was in 1989 for the NAIA where Higgins was a player). [53] In the first game, the Hornets defeated Minnesota–Duluth 59–26, [54] and ended the season in the second round to Northwest Missouri State 44–13. [55]
In 2017, Higgins led the Hornets to a 6–5 season, landing a tie for 6th place in conference play. [56] This was the third straight winning season for the Hornets and first time the program didn't make a post-season appearance since 2014. In 2018, the Hornets had another winning season, ending the season with an 8–4 overall record, and 7–4 in conference play tying for fourth place. [57] They returned to postseason play against the Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils in the Corsicana Bowl, winning 30–22. [58]
In 2019, the Hornets had a rough year as they ended the season with a 4–7 record both overall and in conference play. [59] In 2020, Emporia State did not field a team due to the corona virus pandemic. [60]
In 2021, the Hornets returned with a 6–6 overall record, and 6–5 conference record tying for fifth place in the MIAA. This led them to the Live United Texarkana Bowl, who which they lost 37–34 to Southeastern Oklahoma State. [61] In 2022, the Hornets had their first season with more than six wins since 2018, ending the season with a 9–3 overall win, 8–3 in conference play, landing third in the conference. The Hornets received their chance to defeat Southeastern Oklahoma State again in the Live United Texarkana Bowl, [62] to which they won 48–27. [63]
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | NAIA# | AFCA° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers (Central States Football League)(2000–2004) | |||||||||
2000 | Northwestern Oklahoma State | 13–1 | 5–0 | 1st | L NAIA Championship | 2 | |||
2001 | Northwestern Oklahoma State | 7–3 | 4–0 | 1st | L NAIA First Round | 9 | |||
2002 | Northwestern Oklahoma State | 11–1 | 4–0 | 1st | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 5 | |||
2003 | Northwestern Oklahoma State | 11–2 | 5–0 | 1st | L NAIA Championship | 2 | |||
2004 | Northwestern Oklahoma State | 9–2 | 7–0 | 1st | L NAIA First Round | 9 | |||
Northwestern Oklahoma State: | 51–9 | 25–0 | |||||||
Emporia State Hornets (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2007–present) | |||||||||
2007 | Emporia State | 3–8 | 0–8 | 9th | |||||
2008 | Emporia State | 4–7 | 2–7 | T–8th | |||||
2009 | Emporia State | 2–9 | 1–8 | T–9th | |||||
2010 | Emporia State | 5–6 | 3–6 | T–6th | |||||
2011 | Emporia State | 5–6 | 3–6 | T–6th | |||||
2012 | Emporia State | 10–2 | 9–2 | T–2nd | W Kanza | 22 | |||
2013 | Emporia State | 9–2 | 9–1 | 2nd | L NCAA Division II First Round | 20 | |||
2014 | Emporia State | 4–7 | 4–7 | T–7th | |||||
2015 | Emporia State | 11–3 | 9–2 | 2nd | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | 8 | |||
2016 | Emporia State | 11–2 | 10–1 | 2nd | L NCAA Division II Second Round | 9 | |||
2017 | Emporia State | 6–5 | 6–5 | T–6th | |||||
2018 | Emporia State | 8–4 | 7–4 | T–4th | W Corsicana | ||||
2019 | Emporia State | 4–7 | 4–7 | 9th | |||||
2020–21 | No team—COVID-19 | ||||||||
2021 | Emporia State | 6–6 | 6–5 | T–5th | L Live United Texarkana | ||||
2022 | Emporia State | 9–3 | 8–3 | 3rd | W Live United Texarkana | ||||
2023 | Emporia State | 9–3 | 7–3 | T–3rd | W Heritage | ||||
2024 | Emporia State | 2–0 | 1–0 | ||||||
Emporia State: | 108–80 | 89–75 | |||||||
Total: | 159–89 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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Francis George Welch was an American football player and coach, track and field coach, and college athletics administrator. He was of the first three coaches to be selected for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Track and Field Hall of Fame and is a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
The Emporia State Hornets are the athletic teams that represent Emporia State University (ESU). The women's basketball and softball teams use the name Lady Hornets. The university's athletic program fields 15 varsity teams in 11 sports all of whom have combined to win 50 conference championships as well as three national championships. Corky the Hornet serves as the mascot representing the teams, and the school colors are black and gold. Emporia State participates in the NCAA Division II and has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.
The Emporia State Hornets football program is a college football team that represents Emporia State University, often referred to as "Emporia State" or "ESU". The team competes as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), which is a conference in the Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The program began in 1897 and has fifteen conference titles. On December 15, 2006, former Hornet quarterback Garin Higgins became the team's 24th head coach, following the resignation of Dave Wiemers. Home games are played on Jones Field at Welch Stadium, located on the Emporia State University campus in Emporia, Kansas. In August 2017, Hero Sports named Emporia State the "best football team in Kansas, regardless of division."
The Lindenwood Lions football team represents Lindenwood University in football. Lindenwood is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The Lions were provisional members of the NCAA Division I FCS for the 2022 season before becoming an active member during the 2023–2024 academic year.
The Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University and competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) of the NCAA Division II. On April 28, 2023, Brian Ostermann was announced as the eighth head coach.
Jory Michael Collins is an American women's college basketball coach currently serving as the head coach for the North Dakota State program. From 2010 until 2018, Collins was the head coach at Emporia State University. Collins led the Emporia State Lady Hornets to eight consecutive winning seasons. Collins is the second winningest coach in Emporia State history with a record of 199–58 (.774).
The 2014 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2014 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium, in Emporia, Kansas as they have done since 1937. 2014 was the 121st season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his 14th overall season, and eighth overall at Emporia State. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Brandon Schneider is an American college women's basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Schneider was previously the head coach, from 2010 to 2015, for Stephen F. Austin State University, and from 1998 to 2010 at Emporia State University, an NCAA Division II school located in Emporia, Kansas, where he led the team to the 2010 National Championship.
The Emporia State Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is coached by Tom Billeter, who is in his first season as head coach. The Hornets compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The 2015 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2015 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937. 2015 was the 122nd season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his fifteenth overall season, and ninth at Emporia State. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The Emporia State Hornets baseball team represents Emporia State University in NCAA Division II college baseball. The team participates in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The teams plays its home games on Glennen Field at Trusler Sports Complex, located just north of the Emporia State campus, and are coached by Brad Hill.
The 2016 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on the newly-renovated Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937. 2016 was the 119th season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, finished his 15th overall season, and 10th overall at Emporia State. Emporia State has a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association since 1991.
Robert William Fornelli is an American college baseball coach and current head baseball coach at Pittsburg State University. Previously, Fornelli coached at his alma mater Emporia State University from 2004 to 2018 where he guided the Hornets to five Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular season championships and two conference tournament championships, 13 trips to the NCAA Tournament, two World Series appearances and a national runner-up finish. Fornelli was the coach at Fort Hays State from 1996 to 2003.
The 2017 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937. 2017 was the 120th season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his 16th season overall, and 10th season at Emporia State. Emporia State has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.
The 2018–19 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 45th Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by first-year head coach Toby Wynn. The team played their home games on Slaymaker Court William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, the home court since 1974. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The 2018 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937. 2018 was the 121st season in school history. The Hornets are led by head coach Garin Higgins, who is in his 17th season overall, and 12th season at Emporia State as head coach. Emporia State has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.
The Emporia State–Washburn football rivalry, commonly referred to as the Turnpike Tussle, is an American college football rivalry game played annually between the Emporia State Hornets football team of Emporia State University from Emporia, Kansas, and the Washburn Ichabods football team of Washburn University from Topeka, Kansas. Both schools currently compete in the NCAA Division II level, and are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Emporia State currently leads the series 60–53–2. The Turnpike Tussle is the second-oldest active NCAA Division II rivalry.
The 2019 Emporia State Hornets football team represents Emporia State University in the 2019 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets play their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937. 2019 is the 122nd season in school history. The Hornets are led by head coach Garin Higgins, who is in his 18th season overall, and 13th season at Emporia State as head coach. Emporia State has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.