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Coaching Staff
Helen Higgs, Head Coach
In 2002-03 Higgs led the Pirates to a Northwest Conference title and an overall record of 19-7. A win over eventual NCAA Division III finalist Eastern Connecticut State was included in the victory total. The 2003-04 team was 19-6, while in 2004-05 Higgs directed the Bucs to a 22-3 record, the best single season mark ever at Whitworth. Higgs' teams have consistently battled for conference playoff appearances, have won two conference championships and a conference tournament, placed in the sweet sixteen at the NAIA Division II national championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Higgs has been named Northwest Conference Coach of the Year three times. As a player at the University of Oregon, Higgs started for three years and led the team to a top-ten national ranking. Higgs continued her playing career in Europe, where she helped lead Turnverein Bensburg to an undefeated season and a place in the German Cup finals. As a high school player, Higgs led East Anchorage High School to a state championship in 1980. Higgs began her coaching career while completing her playing career in Germany. She coached the second-division women's team and the 18-under team in Turnverein Bensburg, After leaving Germany, Higgs was an assistant coach at Gonzaga University for two years. While she was there, the Bulldogs won the school's first WCC championship in women's basketball. In 1990, Higgs moved from Gonzaga to perennial national power University of Utah. While Higgs was an assistant with the Utes, Utah was selected to play in the NCAA Tournament twice and played for the WAC championship four times. At Whitworth, Higgs also serves as Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance and Eligibility. Heidi Goicoechia, Assistant Coach
A graduate of Albertson College of Idaho in 2004, Goicoechia is the all-time leading scorer in Coyote history. She was an honorable mention All-Cascade Conference selection as a junior, and a First Team honoree as a senior. In addition to the career scoring record, Goicoechea also holds school records for most three pointers made and attempted and free throw percentage. She also has the single game scoring record of 36 points. A key member of the team since her freshman season, she played in all 33 contests as Albertson advanced to the NAIA Division II championship in 2001. A native of Burley, Idaho, Goicoechia was a three-time All-Great Basin Conference honoree at Burley HS. In addition to her coaching duties, Goicoechia is nearing completion of her Master’s in Sports Administration at Gonzaga University. She also serves as the manager of the athletic department equipment room. |
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Through 14 seasons at Whitworth University, Helen Higgs is the winningest and longest serving women's basketball coach in school history. Not only does she have a record of 214-140 during her tenure as the Pirate head coach, the most wins in school history, her winning percentage of .605 is also the best all-time among Pirate head coaches. Since becoming members of the NCAA in 1999, Higgs has put together the best stretch of records in school history. Whitworth is 164-88 (.651) in the ten seasons the Pirates have been members of Division III.
After serving two seasons as Whitworth’s volunteer assistant coach, Heidi Goicoechia has now completed two seasons as the primary assistant basketball coach for the Pirates. 