Higgins to coach at UTEP

EL PASO, TX (WLFI) - Former Purdue interim head coach and wide receivers coach, Patrick Higgins has been named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to utepathletics.com.

Higgins coached the Boilermakers in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on January 1, 2013. Purdue fell to Oklahoma State in that game 58-14.

Higgins became the interim head coach for the Boilers after Danny Hope was fired as head coach of Purdue's football team on November 25, 2012.

Purdue replaced Hope with former Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell.

Higgins was a member of the UTEP football staff from 1998-2003 under Charlie Bailey and Gary Nord.

Higgins will now work under UTEP head coach Sean Kugler.

“I had the opportunity to work with coach Higgins here at UTEP,” Kugler said.  “I have known him for a long time.  I can’t think of a more detailed, organized coach to be our offensive coordinator.  He has had a lot of great experience even since he’s left UTEP, having been at Louisiana Tech, BYU and Purdue.  He has been a head coach, a coordinator and a special teams coordinator.  I have seen his work ethic up close and I’m excited to have him on board.  He will do a great job.”

Sean's son, Robert Kugler is a sophomore at Purdue and an offensive lineman for the Boilers.