- Tom Higgins (football)
Infobox Gridiron football person
ImageWidth=150
Caption=
Name=Tom Higgins
DateOfBirth=Birth date and age|1954|7|13|mf=y
Birthplace=Colonia, New Jersey
College=North Carolina State
position1=Linebacker
status=
Height_ft=6
Height_in=2
Weight_lbs=235
NFLDraftedYear=
NFLDraftedRound=
administrating_years=2008 - present
administrating_teams=CFL Director of Officiating
coaching_years=2001-2004
2005-2007
coaching_teams=Edmonton Eskimos Calgary Stampeders
playing_years=1976-1978
1979
1980
playing_teams=Calgary StampedersBuffalo Bills Saskatchewan Roughriders
career_highlights=
Awards=
Honors=
Records=
CFL=
NFL=HIG443351
DatabaseFootball=HIGGITOM02Thomas Higgins (born
July 13 ,1954 inColonia, New Jersey ) is the Director of Officiating for theCanadian Football League and a former Canadian andAmerican football player and coach.Early years
Higgins, the son of a former
Chicago Bears running back , was ahigh school football standout atColonia High School inWoodbridge Township, New Jersey . [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HIGGITOM02 Tom Higgins] , database Football. AccessedNovember 14 ,2007 .] He playedlinebacker atNorth Carolina State University . He was anAll-American and was a starter in four consecutivebowl game s. He also was a member of the wrestling team while 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 the1976 NFL Draft . He instead played in the Canadian Football League with theCalgary Stampeders for three years. In 1979, Higgins was signed by theBuffalo Bills and played one year in theUnited States , before returning toSaskatchewan 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 ashead 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'sEdmonton Eskimos that year, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his four season. In 2002 and 2003, he won division titles, and he won a singleGrey 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.CFL Coaching Record
Personal
He has a wife and three children, one of whom is also named Tom.
References
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