2002 Ranger Football Coaching Staff

Some forgot to tell that to Garin Higgins.

Higgins would have none of the rebuilding talk and in his first season led the Rangers to a perfect regular season, a Central States Football League crown and a return trip to the national title game.

So much for the rebuilding effort.

"The expectations here are high and that's just fine," said Higgins. "I want everyone associated with this program to expect to win every Saturday. We will not shy away from high expectations, we will embrace it."

Higgins came to Northwestern as running backs coach in 1994 when expectations were low. That season, the Rangers went 1-9, but by 1996 the Rangers were 8-3 and in the national playoffs.

Higgins deserves much of the credit for the reversal of football fortunes at Northwestern.

In 1997, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and the Rangers adopted an innovative option-oriented attack that would develop into one of the best offenses in the NAIA. Northwestern has led the NAIA in rushing the past two seasons. Higgins also assumed the role of recruiting coordinator and was instrumental in bringing numerous talented players to Alva.

While stressing championship-level football, Higgins also has stressed a sense of community and service to his players. His players now serve as mentors to local youth and his teams have been involved in local charitable causes. Those efforts have created a strong bond between the football program and the local community.

Before coach, Higgins was an all-state quarterback at Blackwell High School, playing under his father Gary, a successful prep coach. He played college football at Emporia (Kan.) State and was a member of the 1989 team that was the NAIA national runner-up.

Higgins and his wife, Heather, have a 5-year-old son, Halen, and a daughter, Harlee, who is 2 1/2.

After coaching the offensive line since his return in 2000, Rhoades moves to the defensive side of the ball, a place where he was an All-American as a player for the Rangers.

If his success on the defensive side matches his accomplishments as an offensive line coach, then Northwestern fans are in for a treat. In 2000, his offensive line paved the way for the NAIA’s most potent running attack, and last year’s unit led the NAIA in total offense and ranked second in rushing offense.

He played at Northwestern in 1996 and earned All-America honors as a linebacker. He served a year on the staff as a graduate assistant in 1997.

Rhoades coached at Fort Hays (Kan.) State University for two seasons before becoming head coach at Wichita County (Kan.) High School. His 1999 team captured the school’s first Class 3A district championship in nine years.

A native of Liberal, Kan., he was a standout prep player and earned numerous honors at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and Western Illinois University before coming to Northwestern.

Rhoades and his wife, Darcy, have two children.

Slaughter now begins his ninth season on the Northwestern staff and his contributions to the success of the program were rewarded in the spring as was elevated from secondary coach to co-defensive coordinator. He helped the 2001 defensive squad rank fifth in total defense in the NAIA.

Slaughter came to Northwestern as a player in 1990 and started 34 games at cornerback in his four-year career. His 16 career interceptions rank him in the top five at Northwestern in that category.

He earned NAIA honorable mention All-America honors in 1992 and was named to the all-conference team in 1991 and 1992.

As a secondary coach for the Rangers, Slaughter has coached numerous All-Americans and directed the NAIA’s top-ranked pass defense in 1996 and the third-ranked unit in 1998.

He has one daughter.

Al Hunt
Quarterbacks