Dr. Kelly Higgins was appointed Associate Athletic Director – Facilities & Event Operations at Eastern New Mexico University in August 2022.
At ENMU, he was directly involved with the installation of the Daktronics videoboard inside Greyhound Arena and installation of turf at Greyhound Softball Field. He also oversees game administration for every Greyhound Athletics home event. In 2024, he arranged the addition of new lights at Greyhound Baseball Field.
Higgins came to Portales after a stint as the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at fellow Lone Star Conference institution, Texas A&M International.
The longtime intercollegiate athletics adminstrator served as the ACAA's (American Collegiate Athletic Association) Commissioner from 2016-22.
His past stops include time as Director of Athletics at Alfred State, St. Anselm, Fort Lewis College, University of District of Columbia, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Higgins has also done consulting with KJH Services. During his time at KJH, he has worked with the University of the District of Columbia, Mercy College, University of Nebraska Omaha, Medgar Evers College, Colorado Mesa University, and Colorado School of Mines. At UDC he also served as the AD on top of consulting duties.
Prior to his time in Fairbanks, Higgins served as the assistant commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the associate athletic director at American University, the athletic facility manager American University, and as a marketing representative for the Omaha Royals.
Higgins is a 1981 graduate of the University of South Dakota. Four years later, he earned a master of science in exercise science from the University of Nebraska. He then went on to earn his doctorate in sports administration from Temple University in 1995. Higgins was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball.
