University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Golf
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- higgi551@umn.edu
- Phone:
- 612-391-2220
Matt Higgins was named head coach of the University of Minnesota women's golf team on May 28, 2024 after serving as the program's assistant coach since January 2021. Higgins came to Minnesota with a magnitude of experience and a strong history of success, most recently as the head men’s and women’s golf coach at Regis University.
2023-24
In the fall of 2023, Higgins helped the team earn three top-ten finishes in four tournaments played. Sophomore Isabella McCauley had a standout season shooting the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history (204) at the Boilermaker Classic. McCauley was crowned a Big Ten Champion and competed individually in the NCAA postseason in back-to-back years. She earned WGCA All-American honors, being named to the Honorable Mention team.
2022-23
In year two with Minnesota, Higgins helped the Gophers move forward 44 spots in the national rankings. The team started the season in 101st, and finished 57th. Higgins assisted in recruiting Isabella McCauley and Luisamariana Mesones, who each individually played in NCAA post-season competition. McCauley and Mesones both had historic freshmen seasons, the former earning All-Big Ten honors. The highlight of the season came at the Evie Odom Invitational where the Gophers finished in 2nd, shooting a school record low-18 of 263 (-17) in round three. Overall, the team racked up eight top-ten finishes and twelve individual top-tens.
2021-22
During his first season as assistant coach in 2021-22, Higgins helped the Gophers to top-ten finishes at four tournaments, and three top-10 individual finishes by three different players. The team’s best tournament came in Sellersburg, Ind. at the Indiana Spring Challenge. The Gophers finished third and posted their top score (293-300-293–886, +22). Sophomore Grace Curran claimed the top individual finish for the Maroon and Gold after finishing T-6th at the Florida State MatchUp.
PRIOR TO MINNESOTA
Higgins spent two years at the helm at Regis University. In his first year as head coach, Higgins was able to lead the program to success despite the abrupt end to the season due to Covid-19 health concerns. Notably, the Regis women's golf team earned third place in the RMAC Fall Preview in Pueblo, Colo. and took fourth place in the Warrior Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. The men's golf team took fourth in the Golf Week D2 Fall Invitational.
Before his time at Regis, Higgins served as the executive director of admissions and assistant athletics director for compliance at Upper Iowa University. He also spent time as the head golf coach at the University of Montana.
Higgins is no stranger to the Minnesota golf scene. He served as the head men's and women's golf coach at Concordia - St. Paul for 14 years and was a two-time NSIC Women's Golf Coach of the Year during his stint. Higgins started the women's program at CSP in 2001-02 as a club team and the Golden Bears started competing at the NCAA Division II level in 2002-03. The men's program began competing in NCAA Division II in 2004-05. At Concordia, he led the women's program to two NCAA National Championship appearances and the 2009 NSIC Conference Championship.
On the national scene, Higgins served more than five years on the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Committee, part of that time as the national chair.
Off the course, Higgins' programs have posted the highest grade point average in Division II three times (2009, 2014 and 2015). Additionally, the Concordia women's golf team earned the WGCA (formerly NGCA) All-Scholar Team award five times during his time with the Golden Bears.
A Minnesota native, Higgins earned his degree in Christian ministry from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul.
History:2024-present Minnesota, Head Coach
2021-23 Minnesota, Assistant Coach
2019-20 Regis University, Head Coach
2018-19 Upper Iowa University, Executive Director of Admissions
2017-18 Upper Iowa University, Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance
2015-17 University of Montana, Head Coach
2001-15 Concordia - St. Paul, Head Coach
