Keith Higdon is entering his 14th season during his second stint at Tuskegee University.
He rejoined the Tuskegee staff in 2009 after a five-year coaching stint at SIAC-foe Clark Atlanta University (2005-09). His previous experience at Tuskegee was from 1998 until 2004, when he coached running backs and as the head track and field coach.
In 2017, Higdon coach offensive lineman Leeward Brown was the team leader with 35 pancakes, and played all four positions this during the season and is one of the reasons TU's backfield averaged a league leading 8.0 yards per carry. Higdon's unit is also helped running back Hoderick Lowe earn Most Valuable Player honors in 2017 SIAC Football Championship game when he rushed for a game high 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In 2016, his offensive line unit protected quarterback Kevin Lacey propelling him to earning the 2016 SIAC Offensive Player of the Year honor.
In the summer of 2012, Higdon participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship with the Buffalo Bills. Following that season, Higdon was promoted to Assistant Head Coach for the Golden Tigers.
Last season, Higdon coached two all-conference selections in Leeward Brown and Vincent Williams that helped to spearhead the SIAC’s top offense. Not only was Brown named all-conference, but he was also awarded all-region status and earned an All-American honor. The Golden Tigers finished the year averaging 28.5 points per game, while piling up 321.8 yards per game on offense that included 158.6 yards per game on the ground.
During the 2014 season, the offensive line was very instrumental in Tuskegee being one of the top offenses in the SIAC. Tuskegee led the conference in scoring by averaging 34.8 points per game which was seven points higher than the next closest team in Stillman (27.9 ppg). They also finished top in the conference in total offense (385.8 ypg), pass efficiency (143.6), first downs per game (19.0) and third down efficiency (41.7%).
The Golden Tigers also finished among the best in Division II in major offensive categories. The team finished 44th in scoring offense (34.8 ppg), 50th in third down conversion percentage (0.417), 67th in rushing offense (173.8 ypg), tied for 81st in first downs (228), 90th in total offense (385.8 ypg), 95th in passing offense (211.9 ypg) and 98th in time of possession (29:35).
During the 2014 season, several offensive linemen earned postseason accolades include a selection to the College Gridiron Classic for Matthew Reese. He, along with, Jamil McKenzie, Darius Moore and tight end Tahj Dent earned First Team All-Conference honors. Reese was named an Honorable Mention All-American by D2 Football and First Team SBN Sports Black College All-America, while McKenzie was named First Team USA College D2 All-America. Several linemen were named All-Region including McKenzie, Moore and Reese earned BSN Division II All-Super Region; while McKenze and Reese were named Don Hansen Third Team All-Super Region.
During Higdon’s tenure at Clark Atlanta, he served as head coach, assistant head coach, defensive backs coach, recruiting coordinator and pro-liaison. Prior to his stint at Clark Atlanta, Higdon helped lead the Golden Tigers win four SIAC football championships, three Pioneer Bowl victories, one Black College National Championship and a perfect 12-0 season in 2000. He coached running back Bobby Wilson, who set new Tuskegee individual rushing records with 1,878 yards and 23 touchdowns in the 2001 season.
He started his collegiate coaching career at Cheyney University (Pa.), where he coached running backs from 1995 until 1998.
During his playing career, Higdon led the NCAA Division II in rushing in 1993, while at Cheyney, and earned All-America honors. He was the Pennsylvania State Athletic ECAC Player of the Year and USA Today National Player of the Week. He gained 1,748 yards on 330 carries in 1993 and participated in the First Annual Division II All-Star Football Game (Snow Bowl, now known as the Cactus Bowl) in North Dakota.
As Cheyney’s all-time leading rusher and scorer and the PSAC Rookie of the Year, the three-time all-conference player had a brief stay with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.
In 2001 Higdon was inducted into the Cheyney University Hall of Fame, he was then inducted into the Cheyney University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with a focus in management from Cheyney in 1994. The Rochester, New York native is married to the former Yani Ridley of Macon, Ga., and the couple has four daughters - Tia, Alexis, Kevia and Nalani.
Higdon is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Fellowship of Christian Athletes(FCA) and the Black Coaches Association.
