Tom Higgins (Canadian football)

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Tom Higgins (Canadian football) bigraphy, stories - Player of American and Canadian football

Tom Higgins (Canadian football) : biography

July 13, 1954 –

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

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.

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., database Football. Accessed November 14, 2007. 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.

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 head coach. 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 that year, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his fourth season. 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 is currently Head of Officiating in the CFL.

CFL coaching record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Result
EDM 2001 9 9 0 .500 1st in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Finals
EDM 2002 13 5 0 .722 1st in West Division 1 1 Lost in Grey Cup
EDM 2003 13 5 0 .722 1st in West Division 2 0 Won Grey Cup
EDM 2004 9 9 0 .500 2nd in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
CGY 2005 11 7 0 .611 2nd in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
CGY 2006 10 8 0 .556 2nd in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
CGY 2007 7 10 1 .417 3rd in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
Total 72 53 1 .571 3 Division Championship 3 6 1 Grey Cup

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.