COACH SEAN M. HIGGINS

After graduating from Fairfax High School, Sean accepted a full scholarship to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI where he also attended Bryant Elementary school.   Sean's gym teacher at Bryant Elementary, Andy Anderson recognized his passion for basketball and decided to teach him the fundamental's of the game.  Sean and coach Anderson developed a close relationship.  Coach Anderson decided Sean was ready for the big boy's so he pulled some strings and put Sean on the schools 5th grade basketball team as Sean was only in the 2rd grade and the following year he played with the 6th grade team.  This was the start of Sean's basketball love affair. 

Around 1978 Sean, his mom and grandmother move to the west coast.  This is when Sean becomes a household name in the basketball world. He recieved his first hand written recruiting letter in the 8th grade from legendary UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian. 

Being recruited by just about every major university, Sean went with his heart, and traveled back to his basketball roots in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he fell in love with the game.  The University of Michigan basketball team was immediately ranked as one of the top five team's in the country!'  Sean would join a team that already featured, future NBA player's Glen Rice, Terry Mills, Rumeal Robinson, Loy Vaught. 

 Studying Sports Management while in Ann Arbor and being a member of a major basketball program, ignited a passion for Sean to one day work in the Sports Industry.  Being in the spotlight on a high profile team, and the demands and responsibilties of a top student athlete, was challenging, but rewarding for Sean.  He developed that Maize and Blue Michigan work ethic, "Work hard all the time and always put team first!"

 The legendary football coach at Michigan during Sean's tenure, Glen "Bo" Schembechler, had a huge influence on Sean attending U of M.  Many people don't know that Sean used to catch the city bus with his Uncle as a youngster to Michigan Stadium on Saturday's and cheer amongst the 105,000 fan's while Bo coached the football team. According to Sean, this is when he became excited about the University of Michigan.  "When you grow up in Ann Arbor, you grow up Maize and Blue, you learn the Michigan fight song at a very young age," says Sean. And, he knew it front and backwards.

 Bo really motivated Sean with one of his notorious speeches one afternoon before the basketball team started their championship run in 1989.  ''He personally chewed me out and demanded we play like a team going into the tournament," states Sean.  The team was at a disadvantage since their head coach had resigned weeks before.  The tournament began and the rest was history, Sean and his teammates defeated the odds and won the title. A year later Sean would join teammates, Glen Rice, Terry Mills, Rumeal Robinson and Loy Vaught in the NBA!!!

                        1989 NCAA BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS                                    

COLLEGE EDUCATION 

                            Sports Management and Communications

RECOGNITION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

             1987-1988  Selected to the USA Olympic Festival 

West Squad   

                  Ranked  Top Five Freshmen in the Country

USA Today

           1988-1989  National Champion; Honorable Mention

AP AllAmerican

                  NCAA Tournament Southeast regional

     All-Tournament Team  

            1989-1990  AP Pre-Season All-American ; Scored 32 points against   Duke University televised on ABC in an overtime win; 

# 1 on schools All Time list for career three point percentage. Top ten list of most three pointers made in a single game and Career free throw percentage;

Single game field goal percentage and career field goals. All-Time USA Olympic Festival team.

Sean's first pair of Michigan Nike Dunks, best college shoe ever.

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