Central A&M officially welcomed back one of its own on Tuesday night as the Board of Education approved Trevor Higgins as the school’s new Head Football Coach.
A 2003 Central A&M graduate, Higgins returns to Raider Nation after an outstanding run at Pana, where he built one of the area’s most consistent programs. During his time with the Panthers, Higgins compiled a remarkable 78–18 overall record and guided his teams to four IHSA quarterfinal appearances, establishing Pana as a perennial playoff contender in Class 3A and 2A.
Higgins’ year-by-year success at Pana includes:
- 2016-17 (3A): 9–2, Quarterfinals
- 2017-18 (3A): 9–2, Quarterfinals
- 2018-19 (2A): 9–2, Quarterfinals
- 2019-20 (2A): 10–2, Quarterfinals
- 2020-21: 4–1
- 2021-22 (2A): 11–1, Quarterfinals
- 2022-23 (2A): 10–2, Quarterfinals
- 2023-24 (2A): 6–4
- 2024-25 (2A): 10–2, Quarterfinals
Those seasons combined to produce the 78–18 mark and multiple deep playoff runs, highlighting Higgins’ consistency and ability to keep his teams competitive year after year.
Beyond the wins and postseason success, Higgins is known for his commitment to building a strong culture and developing high-character student-athletes. His focus on discipline, accountability, and teamwork has been a hallmark of his coaching career – Principal Daly of Central A&M High School
Coach Higgins will begin meeting with current and future Central A&M players this week as he starts the next chapter of Raider football.
With a proven track record and deep roots in the program, Central A&M is excited to welcome Coach Higgins back to the sidelines and looks forward to the future of Raider football under his leadership.