HICKORY, N.C. – After seven successful seasons as the head coach of the women's soccer program, Gary Higgins has resigned to take the head coaching position at Division I East Carolina. Higgins leaves as the program's all-time leader in wins and took the 2021 squad to an NCAA Final Four appearance.

"Coach Higgins embodies what it meant to be a Lenoir-Rhyne Bear," commented Vice President for Athletics Kim Pate. "He brought our women's soccer program to unmatched heights and his student-athletes were standouts on and off the field. We can't thank Gary enough for his contributions to our program as both a coach and a student-athlete and wish him and his family the best of luck at East Carolina."

Higgins sports a career record of 83-31-13 and a winning percentage of .705 since taking over in 2015. Higgins led the program to a pair of regular season conference championships in 2016 and 2019 and a conference tournament title in the 2020-21 COVID season. Higgins' squads advanced to three NCAA Tournaments, including a No. 2 seed and hosting the 2019 first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

2021 was a record year for Higgins and the Bears who had a Cinderella run to the Final Four. In the opening round, the Bears topped unbeaten Catawba in penalty kicks on Catawba's home turf and then took care of conference foe Queens in the Second Round. LR would travel to Pensacola, Fla. and capture a Regional Championship with penalty kick victories over higher seeds Flagler and Florida Tech to move to the Final Four. The Bears would run into eventual National Champion Grand Valley St. in the Final Four, falling 3-0 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Bears would wrap up the season ranked No. 4 in the final national poll, the highest ranking in program history.

Higgins was a two-time SAC Coach of the Year (2016 and 2019) and coached a trio of All-Americans. 39 players have gone on to be All-Conference selections and 23 players have been All-Region honorees. Higgins coached Aqsa Mushtaq to the 2019 SAC Player of the Year and Abigael McGarel to the 2016 Freshman of the Year award. Additionally, six players have been named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans under Higgins. Abbie Brown and Mushtaq would go on to play professionally after finishing up with the Bears.

Higgins also was a standout on the pitch for Lenoir-Rhyne, playing from 2006-09. Higgins was an Honorable Mention All-American in 2007 and was a two-time All-Conference and All-Region player. In 2006, Higgins helped the Bears to a program-best 19-1-1 record and a berth in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament. Higgins would go on to play professionally with the Reading (Pa.) Rage of the USL Premier Development League and the Knoxville Force of the NPSL.

"It has been an absolute honor and privilege to lead the LR women's soccer program over the past seven seasons," said Higgins. "I am so proud of all the players, past and present, who have made this program so special. I will cherish all the memories for the rest of my life. I would like to thank Kim Pate for all of her support through the years. She is an exceptional leader and always puts the student-athlete experience at the forefront. I'd also like to thank the late Neill McGeachy who hired me back in 2015. Neill knew I didn't have much experience but knew I loved LR and when you love something, you are willing to go above and beyond to make it successful. LR gave me a home away from home, a college degree, a beautiful wife and so many valuable friendships and relationships over the years. I will forever be grateful."