Former Pacific Tiger Valerie Higgins was hired on July 1, 2023 as an Assistant Coach, as well as the Director of Player Development and Video Coordinator. In addition to on-court coaching, Higgins is heavily involved with video, recruiting and other aspects of the program.
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 10 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).
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 in the 2022-23 season, Higgins was named Player of the Week twice and was third in steals and 10th in scoring.
