UNM men’s golf coach J.T. Higgins has helped continue the Lobos’ strong golf program throughout his tenure and now will take his success to Texas A&M University.
Higgins was hired Tuesday afternoon to take over the Aggie program. He replaces Bob Ellis, who retired after 27 years as Aggie head coach.
“It is a great opportunity for me and my family,” Higgins said. “The school has a lot of resources for the golf team to build a successful program.”
After coaching at UNM from 1997-2001, Higgins will be heading to the Big 12 Conference and taking over a program that did not win a tournament and whose best finish was third place this past year. However, the Aggies did make the NCAA Regionals, finishing 13th in the Central region.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a great situation for me and the school is very good.”
Higgins said he hopes he can bring the same kind of success he had with the Lobos to Texas A&M.
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He came to New Mexico four years ago expecting to continue UNM’s rich golf tradition and did just that. The Lobos have finished in the top four in their conference for 16 straight years. In that span, they have participated in the NCAA Regionals in all but three of those years.
“I am really satisfied with my stay here,” he said. “As a program, we have accomplished a lot. I have had some wonderful years.”
In his first year in 1998, Higgins led the Lobos to its first ever NCAA West Regional Championship. He has led the Lobos to four NCAA Regionals and two trips to the NCAA Championship. He also has coached three All-Americans and 12 academic all-conference players.
This season, he coached the Lobos to a school record three tournament victories and finished ranked 17th nationally. He also is the 2001 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.
“This year was my best year of all,” Higgins said. “We got better and better as a team and won three tournaments.”
UNM will have 10 players returning next year. Higgins said he has spoken to some of the returning players about his departure.
“They were a little disappointed, but they were happy for me,” he said. “I wished them all the best of luck. They are going to have a great team and a wonderful recruiting class. I hope they accomplish more than what I was able to get accomplished.”
Higgins said he is going to miss the green chile and the support of the community.
“The elite program at UNM has been a reflection of the community because they want to see the program succeed,” he said. “During my time here, the community has been great and helped us do a great job getting funds.”
Higgins said he hopes that assistant coach Glen Millican will be the next coach to help keep continuity inside the golf program.
