STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific women's basketball team has rounded out its staff, bringing back Tiger legend Valerie Higgins to fill the new role of Director of Player Development and Video Coordinator. Changes to NCAA legislation will allow Higgins to be directly involved with on-floor coaching and individual player development. Higgins will also be heavily involved with video, recruiting and other aspects of the program.

"I am fired up to bring Val back home to Pacific," Head Coach Bradley Davis said. "Val's basketball successes as a Tiger and beyond speak for themselves, and fortunately, our Pacific family was there to witness most of them. Since being drafted in 2021, she has continued to be an invested member of our program, university and community. I am certain that her leadership and mentorship abilities will instantly benefit an experienced roster next season. While I am sure Val could have played for years to come, I was also confident that the call to teach and coach would come sooner or later. As the daughter of a teacher and coach, it is just in her blood." 

"Pacific is truly a family affair, and we are thrilled to welcome Val home again in her new role."

During her time in a Pacific uniform, Valerie served as a model of consistency and production. Finishing her career as one of the most accomplished student-athletes on the court, Higgins was the West Conference Defensive Player of the Year twice during her time in Stockton and earned All-WCC First Team Honors three times. Higgins was the first Pacific Women's Basketball player drafted into the WNBA, going 25th overall to the New York Liberty. 

Overall, Higgins ranks in the top ten in points (1,357, sixth), rebounds (744, seventh), assists (271, ninth), steals (278, second), blocks (75, ninth), and free throw percentage (.783, fourth) in program history. As a member of the 1,000-point + 600-rebound club, the 6'1" guard also ranks in the top five at Pacific in points per game (16.8, second), steals per game (3.4, first), defensive rebounds (535, third), defensive rebounds per game (6.6, second), overall rebounding average (9.2, third), free throws attempted (531, third) and free throws made (416, first).

"I am super excited to be back at Pacific and to start my career here with such amazing people," said Higgins. "My time as a student-athlete at Pacific was so special and amazing, and I am just super grateful and hyped up that I now get the opportunity to impact and give back to the Tiger community to help other student-athletes have the same opportunity and experiences that I had." 

Her professional career is just as full of accomplishments as her college career was, being named the EWBL Guard of the Year and Extraliga Player of the Year while with the Young Angels in the Slovakian League. She was named to the All-Slovenian First-Team while leading the league in scoring and being top five in rebounds, steals and blocks. 

In her time in Greece this past season, Higgins was named Player of the Week twice and was third in steals and tenth in scoring.

Higgins will officially start on July 1 for the Tigers.