University of Vermont Athletics

Layne C. Higgs 1966 - Baseball, Basketball, Track and Field

Layne Higgs, inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982, was one of the UVM's brightest stars on the hardcourt in the 60's. Higgs finished his career as the fifth-leading scorer on the UVM all-time list, averaging 14.9 points a game from 1963-66.

The Barre, Vt. native was selected to the All-Yankee Conference, All-Vermont and All-New England teams during his career at Vermont. Higgs captained his freshman basketball squad to an undefeated season, and co-captained the varsity as a senior in 1965-66. Higgs also was the varsity track team his sophomore and junior years and played freshman baseball.

In addition to being an outstanding athlete, Higgs was a Dean's List student. As a senior he was named to the Yankee Conference All-Academic team, and was the recipient of the Wasson Athletic Prize (UVM's scholar-athlete award) at the Senior Lettermen's Dinner.

Upon graduation, Higgs became basketball coach at Kingswood Regional High School (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and held that position for four years before pursuing a master's degree in education at the University of Virginia, which he received in 1971. Higgs then became a teacher and the head basketball coach at St. Johnsbury Academy where he served for over 35 years. One of the top coaches ever in the state of Vermont, he led the Hilltoppers to three Vermont Division I titles and was the high school coach for future Catamount standouts Tony Orciari '01 and Taylor Coppenrath '05. Higgs retired from teaching and coaching at the academy in the spring of 2006.