LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Covenant Director of Athletics, John Hirte, has announced Dr. Bill Higley as the new Softball Head Coach. Higley is the seventh head coach in program history. 

"We are thrilled to add Coach Higley to our coaching staff. He has a true passion for teaching and using sport to develop and impact the lives of players and help them grow closer to Jesus," Hirte said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Softball program, and I am eager to see what is in store for the team under his leadership."

Higley comes to Covenant after serving as the Softball Head Coach at Clarks Summit University in Pennsylvania for 20 years. Higley was also a professor and the Vice President for Academics at Clarks Summit.

"I am excited to join the Covenant community as the next Head Softball Coach. I'm grateful to John Hirte, the selection committee, and the administration of Covenant College for this opportunity.," Higley said. "Their kindness, encouragement, and prayers throughout the hiring process have been a blessing."

Higley earned his Bachelor's Degree from Clarks Summit, formally known as Baptist Bible College, before graduating with a MA in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary. Higley also holds a MBA from WIlliam Howard Taff University and a Ph.D. in Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Five times during his career, Higley has been named Conference Coach of the Year. In 2022, he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Honor at Clarks Summit.

During his tenure at Clarks Summit, he won a Conference Championship and earned two Conference runner-up finishes. In just the program's third year, Higley took over a team that was fledgling and turned it into a widely respected and competitive NCAA Division III program.

In his final season at Clarks Summit, the Defenders went 20-17-1 with a 9-8 record in the United East Conference. In total, according to the NCAA stats website, Higley has 269 career wins to his name. 

In his career, Higley has coached four NCCAA All-Americans, 31 All-East Region Players, and one Regional Player of the Year. 32 of his former players were named All-Conference. 

From 2015 on as the Vice President for Academics at Clarks Summit, Higley oversaw undergraduate, graduate, and seminary academics, helping students make sure their academic endeavors fit the direction that God was leading them.

"I firmly believe that athletic participation is one of the unique tools God gives a school like Covenant to help disciple student-athletes for His purposes. And that will be the major goal for our softball program," Higley said. "We want to win on the field, as well as in our personal and spiritual growth, in our academics, and in our relationships with each other. All we do with Covenant Softball, will be for God's Glory".

While as a faculty member, Higley had done research on local church ministry and leadership studies. Higley is married to his wife Susan and they have four adult children.

Higley takes over a Scots Softball team that has a strong group of returning seniors led by Ashlyn Gaines, Helena Nagy, and Olivia Stefl. Each of these three batted over .322 in the 2024 season. In the circle, Covenant returns sophomores Madison Bowden and Lauren Edgar, who both threw significant innings this past season.

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