| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 10, 1920 Maypearl, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 6, 1991 (aged 71) Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1938–1940 | Trinity (TX) |
| 1941 | Chicago Cardinals |
| Position(s) | Guard, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1949–1952 | Lamar / Lamar Tech (assistant) |
| 1953–1962 | Lamar Tech |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1963–1982 | Lamar Tech / Lamar |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 59–38–4 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 LSC (1957) | |
James Benton Higgins Jr. (January 10, 1920 – June 6, 1991) was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He played college football at Trinity University in Waxahachie, Texas and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for one season, in 1941, with the Chicago Cardinals. Higgins served as the head football coach at Lamar State College of Technology—now known as Lamar University—in Beaumont, Texas from 1953 to 1962, compiling a record of 59–38–4. He was also the athletic director at Lamar from 1963 to 1983.
Higgins was an assistant coach at Lamar Tech for four seasons under Stan Lambert before succeeding him as head coach.[1] After playing with the Cardinals, Higgins entered the United States Marine Corps, reaching the rank of major.[2]
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar Tech Cardinals (Lone Star Conference) (1953–1962) | |||||||||
| 1953 | Lamar Tech | 3–7 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| 1954 | Lamar Tech | 3–7 | 1–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1955 | Lamar Tech | 4–6 | 2–4 | T–4th | |||||
| 1956 | Lamar Tech | 4–4–1 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1957 | Lamar Tech | 8–0–2 | 5–0–2 | 1st | |||||
| 1958 | Lamar Tech | 6–2 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1959 | Lamar Tech | 8–3 | 4–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1960 | Lamar Tech | 8–4 | 5–2 | T—2nd | |||||
| 1961 | Lamar Tech | 8–2–1 | 4–2–1 | 3rd | W Tangerine | ||||
| 1962 | Lamar Tech | 7–3 | 4–3 | 4th | |||||
| Lamar Tech: | 59–38–4 | 34–28–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 59–38–4 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- ↑ "Higgins Named New Lamar Tech Football Coach". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. United Press. December 5, 1952. p. 47. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com
. - ↑ "James Higgins Is New Lamar Grid Mentor". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. December 8, 1952. p. 13. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- James B. Higgins at Find a Grave