James B. Higgins
James Benton Higgins Jr. (January 10, 1920 – June 6, 1991) was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He played college football at Trinity University in Waxahachie, Texas and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for one season, in 1941, with the Chicago Cardinals. Higgins served as the head football coach at Lamar State College of Technology—now known as Lamar University—in Beaumont, Texas from 1953 to 1962, compiling a record of 59–38–4. He was also the athletic director at Lamar from 1963 to 1983.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 10, 1920 Maypearl, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 6, 1991 (aged 71) Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1938–1940 | Trinity (TX) |
| 1941 | Chicago Cardinals |
| Position(s) | Guard, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1949–1952 | Lamar / Lamar Tech (assistant) |
| 1953–1962 | Lamar Tech |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1963–1982 | Lamar Tech / Lamar |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 59–38–4 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 LSC (1957) | |
Higgins was an assistant coach at Lamar Tech for four seasons under Stan Lambert before succeeding him as head coach. After playing with the Cardinals, Higgins entered the United States Marine Corps, reaching the rank of major.