Higgins named assistant coach at UMES

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) announced the hiring of Janelle Higgins as an assistant coach for the softball program. This is her first coaching position at the NCAA Division I level. Higgins is a graduate of Panorama High School and the daughter of Jean Higgins of Yale.

Higgins most recently served as head coach of softball at North Platte Community College (NPCC). Under her leadership, the North Platte Knights captured the Region IX Division II championships in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2021 with Higgins earning Region IX Division II Coach of the Year honors each of those years. Her leadership was also recognized with the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards in 2012 and 2017, and she was named Co-Coach of the Year in 2016.

Before her role at NPCC, Higgins worked at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana, where she served as the head softball coach, assistant basketball coach, faculty member, and director of Campus Corps. Under her leadership, the Lady Buccaneers achieved notable success, including a second-place finish in the Mon-Dak Conference and a fourth-place finish in the regional tournament. Higgins also held coaching positions at Southwestern Community College and Saydel High School, where she played a key role in leading her teams to state tournament appearances and high rankings.

Higgins holds a bachelor of science in education from Northwest Missouri State University and a master of science in recreation and sports science from Ohio University.