IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
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Mike Higgins collected All-America honors in cross country and set numerous distance-running records in track despite battling an assortment of injuries.
Higgins sat out the 1978 cross country season after surgery to remove bone spurs, but he came back with a vengeance in 1979, placing 18th at the 1979 NAIA national meet in Kenosha, Wis., to earn All-America honors. His performance helped the Indians, as they were then known, finish fifth as a team.
His first All-America honor came in 1977. IUP tied for third at the NCAA Division II meet in Chicago, the best performance in school history. Coach Lou Sutton’s entire team—Higgins was joined by Dick Wolf, Ken Trilli, Dan Cunkelman, Jeff Tomecek, Jake Hepp, Tim McVeagh and Andy Pheiff—was accorded All-America status.
Higgins finished second at the NCAA regionals in 1979, still the highest finish in school history. He earned All-PSAC honors in 1977 and 1979, when he placed fourth and ninth, respectively. Only five runners in program history have finished higher than his fourth in 1977. IUP won the PSAC title that season with Higgins competing.
In track, Higgins set records in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and was twice a national qualifier: in the steeplechase at the 1977 NAIA meet and in the 5,000 at the 1978 NCAA meet.
Higgins graduated from IUP in 1979 with a degree in computer science and earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1986. He is founder/principal of SPI Consulting and founder/managing partner of Spark Automation, companies that help manufacturers automate their processes on the plant floor. Both are based in Mars.
He and his wife, Mindy, a 1980 IUP grad, reside in Mars. They have two children, Angela and Matt, and two grandchildren.
Personal Reflection:
Being inducted into the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame is quite an honor and is very much appreciated. When I consider the caliber of individuals who have preceded me, I am very humbled and blessed by this award.
Reflecting the state of IUP cross country and track in the late ’70s, I don’t believe that any of us recognized at the time what a golden era the program was in. A winning and competitive tradition had already been established and it was up to us to continue and build on that success. Head coach Lou Sutton provided the administration and organization of the program and was supported by two coaches in particular who were themselves national class athletes. “Doc” Raemore provided guidance for the sprint events and Ed Fry led the distance runners.
I can never forget the intense and almost masochistic workouts that “Fast Eddy” put us through. The cool thing was that he was also a participant. It was always a challenge to try to stay up with him (absolutely the most competitive person I have ever met). The intensity of the program created a team of overachievers, which I credit with any success we obtained. I can’t fathom that any other program worked harder than us.
Ed became a lifelong friend, the best man at my wedding and, after running was no longer an option for him, a disc golf partner extraordinaire!
I think I would also be remiss not to give a shout out to Bob Shaffer, my high school coach, who first got me excited about running. Coach Shaffer, along with my dad, made the trip to check out IUP on a snowy February day where we met Coach Sutton. In addition, I was blessed to have two supportive parents, who made many of my events.
The relationships and friendships that were developed in cross country and track have stood the test of time. Forty-plus years later, I still count many of my teammates as best friends. The cross country house had the reputation for hosting the best parties on campus. I can make that claim, because it was at one of those parties that I spotted an incredibly cute young lady named Mindy who has been my life partner and support for the last 43 years.
IUP provided a great education, but I credit the dedication and discipline developed through the countless miles of training for allowing me to carve out a great life, a great marriage and a lifelong fitness journey. It provided the tools to start my own consulting practice 20+ years ago. It launched me on a spiritual journey that has culminated in serving on the board of a couple of amazing Christian nonprofits. Luke 12:48 states, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” I’ve been blessed through my time at IUP, and my prayer is that as I continue this adventure called life, I can give back accordingly.
I will always treasure the memories and friendships that were part of my IUP athletic experience. Thanks again. I am extremely grateful for this honor.
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