GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College assistant men's soccer coach Gary Higgins will be stepping down from his TC post to become the women's soccer head coach at his alma mater, Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Higgins leaves Tusculum following three seasons at the Greeneville, Tennessee school including this year as the Pioneers finished with an 11-6-3 overall record and captured the program's fifth South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship.

"I am so appreciative and grateful for Gary's contribution to our program at Tusculum College," said TC men's soccer head coach Allen Vital. "His work ethic, dedication, and enthusiasm have been instrumental in getting our program back to the championship level. I am also very excited for both he and his wife Klara as they return to their alma mater for what seems to be excellent opportunities for both of them. I know that Gary will bring the same enthusiasm and passion he showed here to his new post at Lenoir-Rhyne. I wish both he and Klara all the very best."

In 2014, Tusculum posted an impressive 8-1-2 record in its final 11 contests, as the Pioneers advanced past the top-three seeds, including a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Wingate University in the SAC Tournament final. Five TC student-athletes earned league honors, including two All-Region selections.

"I would like to thank Coach Vital and Athletic Director Frankie DeBusk for giving me the opportunity to coach at Tusculum the past three seasons," said Higgins. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Tusculum and I will miss the TC community. I got to coach some excellent players during my tenure as assistant men's soccer coach and I will forever cherish the friendships and memories I made at Tusculum."

A native of Paisley, Scotland, Higgins played for St. Mirren Football Club at the professional youth level. Higgins also represented his country at U18 level when he played for Scotland School Boys, competing against England, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Canada.

Gary came to the United States in 2005 and played at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he earned honorable mention Daktronics All-America honors in 2007 and was an All-Region performer in 2006 and 2007. Higgins was also a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference honoree for the Bears and a three-year captain, helping the team to a 19-1-1 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 in 2006.

After graduating in 2010 with a degree in health and exercise science, Higgins remained at Lenoir-Rhyne stayed on as an assistant coach while earning a masters degree in Liberal Arts. During his time as an assistant at his alma mater, Higgins helped with recruiting, practice, scheduling and scouting along with other duties.

Higgins has also played at the semi-professional level in the United States. He played for Reading (Pa.) Rage of the USL Premier Development League, where he received team MVP honors and helped the team reach the league semifinals in 2008. Most recently, Higgins captained the Knoxville Force in the NPSL during the 2012 season, where they finished with a winning record of 6-4.

Higgins, who has his USSF National D coaching license, has coached at the club level for the last five years and has also coached ODP for the state of North Carolina.

Higgins is married to the former Klara Ledford.

Vital indicated that a search for Higgins' replacement is currently underway.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tennessee, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference. Tusculum, the oldest college in the State of Tennessee, sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, including women's lacrosse, which will be competing in its first season during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Tusculum, the 28th oldest college in the nation, is a liberal arts institution committed to providing a liberal arts education in a Judeo-Christian and civic arts environment, with pathways for career preparation, personal development and civic engagement. Approximately twenty-one hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and three off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars.

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