Nikki Higgins, a former assistant women's volleyball coach at Frostburg State University, will join the Garrett College Lakers staff as the head women's volleyball and softball coach and is ready to hit the ground running.
"I want to lay a foundation that leads to greatness. I'm looking forward to creating a culture that student-athletes want to be a part of," Higgins stated. "I'm even more excited to meet the current student-athletes and get in the weight room, in the gym and on the field."
A four-year setter at the State University of New York Institute of Technology (SUNYIT), Higgins previously coached at Utica College. She also worked for Road Rebel, a global logistics and travel company, coordinating NCAA athletic team travel in Divisions I, II and III.
"I am a huge competitor and really do not like losing so obviously for both volleyball and softball I have goals of winning, but there is a process to get there," explained Higgins. "My short-term goals for the athletics department are to recruit and retain athletes that are committed to being a part of Laker Nation and understand they are laying a foundation for the future."
She continued, "I would love to ensure the growth of athletics as a whole is consistent, including fundraising, culture, overall student involvement and student success!"
"We hope to build team unity and successful athletic programs for all student-athletes," interim co-athletic director Elizabeth Show remarked. "As in all sports, teamwork is the key to success, and I believe we have a great team of staff that will make things happen."
Eric Hallenbeck, baseball coach and co-interim athletic director, agrees wholeheartedly.
"Coach Gibson helped us get to where the state of the athletic department is today and Liz and I want to help take this department to another level in the future," said Hallenbeck, referring to former athletic director and NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame coach Dennis Gibson, who retired Aug. 1. "JR (Robert "JR" Kerns, Dean of Student Affairs) and college administration played a huge role in getting the athletic department the resources and additional staff for us to be successful and help our programs grow. Now we just have to put the pieces together and work as a team to make that happen."
