Vito Higgins, who made the move from the field to the coaching box for Gonzaga University in 2008 following an outstanding career in the nets for the Bulldogs, returns for his 11th season.
The native of Kailua, Hawai'i, joined head coach the Gonzaga staff after a foot injury cut short his professional career. He is second all-time in saves with 305 and had signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS in the spring of 2008 following a tryout, but decided to forego his professional career when GU offered him a spot on his staff.
Higgins was instrumental in the Bulldogs reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2007, posting a 0.71 goals-against-average for the season which still ranks second on the single-season list behind fellow Hawaiian Josh Fouts and his 0.68 in 1998. Higgins also posted a 1.34 career GAA that still ranks third all-time. His 14 career shutouts rank second behind Fouts. He started 70 of his 72 appearances and played more than 6,500 minutes in his career.
He coached Ryan Caballero (2010-13) and current GU keeper redshirt senior Ben Willis, rank fourth and fifth all-time in shutouts with 12 and seven, respectively. Willis has a 1.37 GAA, fourth all-time. Caballero passed Higgins for the lead all-time in saves with 322. He tutored the single-season leaders in saves in Scott Barnum, 104 in 2009, and Caballero, 93 in 2011, followed by Mike McCarthey, 91 in 2002, and Caballero again with 91 in 2010. In addition, Caballero was an All-WCC Second Team and All-Freshman selection.
