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Higgs steps down as Whitworth

women’s basketball coach

SPOKANE — Helen Higgs, the winningest and longest-serving women’s basketball coach in Whitworth history, has resigned following her 24th season with the Pirates.

Higgs concludes her coaching career at Whitworth with a record of 361-253. She ranked 48th in total victories among active NCAA Division III coaches heading into this season.

“After every season I evaluate what is best for this program in every aspect, and my own sense of passion and calling,” Higgs said. “This year felt like my sense of vocation and passion are no longer here. If I’m not all in, my team won’t be all in.”

Higgs led the Pirate women to the NAIA Division II national tournament in 1995, her first season as head coach. She guided the Bucs to three appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament: 1999, 2013 and 2014. Whitworth won two regular season NWC titles under Higgs (1995 and 2003) and three NWC tournaments (1995, 2013 and 2014). She is a three-time NWC Coach of the Year (1995, 2002, 2003).

The Pirates finished 10-15 overall and 5-11 in the Northwest Conference in 2017-18.

Higgs put together the two best stretches of records in school history. Whitworth went 124-53 (.700) in the seven seasons from 1999-2005 and the Pirates were 78-31 (.715) over four years from 2013-2016.

Higgs played at the University of Oregon and played professionally in Europe. She was an assistant coach at Gonzaga for two years. While she was there, the Bulldogs won the school’s first WCC championship in women’s basketball.

In 1990, Higgs moved from Gonzaga to the University of Utah. While Higgs was an assistant with the Utes, Utah was selected to play in the NCAA Tournament twice and played for the WAC championship four times.