Tom Higgins (Canadian football)

Thomas Joseph John Higgins, Jr. (born July 13, 1954 in Colonia, New Jersey) is a former head coach in the Canadian Football League. Higgins previously served as the Director of Officiating for the Canadian Football League and a former Canadian and American football player coach and General Manager.

Early years

Higgins, the son of a former Philadelphia Eagles tackle, Tom Higgins, Sr., was a high school football standout at Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.^[1] He played linebacker at North Carolina State University. He was an All-American and was a starter in four consecutive bowl games. He was also an All-American wrestler at NC State.

Professional playing career

After graduating from college in 1976, Higgins attempted to enter the National Football League, but was not selected in the 1976 NFL Draft. He instead played in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders for three years. In 1979, Higgins was signed by the Buffalo Bills and played one year in the United States, before returning to Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Higgins began coaching at the University of Calgary, winning the 1983 CIS title in the second of his three years as an assistant coach under Canadian Football Hall of Fame coach Peter Connellan.^[2] In 1985, Higgins joined the Stampeders coaching staff, serving in many different capacities until becoming a head coach in 2001.

Higgins became head coach of the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos later that year, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons. In 2002 and 2003, he won division titles, and he won a single Grey Cup as a head coach, with the Eskimos in 2003.

In 2005 he returned to the Calgary Stampeders as head coach. He held this position for three years, making the playoffs in each, but with the team's record also declining each season. He was fired after a first round loss during the 2007 playoffs.

Higgins served as the CFL's Head of Officiating from April 2008 to December 2013.^[3]

Higgins was hired as the new head coach of the Montreal Alouettes on February 24, 2014, succeeding Jim Popp who took over from Dan Hawkins during the 2013 season.^[4] On August 21, 2015, Alouettes ownership relieved Tom Higgins of his coaching duties and brought general manager Jim Popp to the bench for the fourth time. .^[5]

CFL coaching record

Personal

He has a wife and three children, one of whom is also named Thomas. His two others named Holly and Hilary. His brother, Dan Higgins, played football at North Carolina State, as well. He is currently the head football coach at Piscataway High School in New Jersey. Tom and Dan's father, Tom Higgins, played in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. Tom Sr. was a legendary coach at Piscataway High School prior to his son, Dan, coaching there. Tom Sr. resides in Piscataway with his wife, Sedora.

References