James Hicks begins his fifth season as head coach at Cumberland in 2019-20 after serving three years in the same capacity at Darton State College in Albany, Ga.

Hicks led the Phoenix to the Mid-South Conference Tournament championship in his first year at the helm of the program, tying for the team title for the program’s first-ever MSC title. For his efforts he was voted Mid-South Conference West Division Coach of the Year. Sammy Rosario, Nate Croley, Orlando Nawade, Kyle Delaune and Dustin Harris all earned Second Team All-Mid-South honors and Croley went on to garner All-America accolades at 157.

In addition eight student-athletes were named Academic All-Mid-South Conference and Peter Donchev and Nick Paden were recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Last season two athletes recieved All-America honors – Anothony Maia and Nathan Walton. Maia reached the national tournament semifianls and Walton reached the seventh pplace event.

In 2016-17, three student-athletes earned All-America honors for the Phoenix – Rosario, Croley and Delaune – tying for the most All-Americans in a single season in program history. Croley was voted Second Team All-Mid-South while nine athletes were named Academic All-Mid-South and Matt Carroll, Evan Cole and Peter Donchev were reconized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Hicks produced two national champions and six junior college All-Americans during his three seasons at Darton State. The Belle Glade, Fla., native was named Region III Eastern District II Coach of the Year in each of the last two seasons for the Cavaliers and the team won the Eastern District II Championship in both campaigns as well.

Twenty-two wrestlers qualified for the NJCAA national tournament over his three years, including nine in 2015 and eight in 2014. The team finished in the Top 25 at the national tourney all three seasons, including 14th in 2015 and 17th in 2014. Darton State also placed third each of his last two years in the non-scholarship division of the NJCAA National Championships. In addition, five wrestlers garnered Academic All-America honors under Hicks’ tutelage.

Hicks served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Campbellsville University, for four years, with the Tigers placing in the Top 7 at the NAIA Championship in three of those campaigns. Campbellsville won the East Region Qualifier in his final season as an assistant in 2012 and finished in the Top 5 at the NWCA National Duals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Tigers also won the Mid-South Conference regular season title in each of his last three years with the program.

During his time as an assistant coach, Campbellsville produced a pair of national champions, 19 NAIA All-Americans, 47 national qualifiers, 10 East Region champions, 17 Mid-South Conference champions and seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Hicks was a three-time NAIA national qualifier and a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete during his wrestling career at Campbellsville as well as a three-year starter for the Tigers. He was a member of the 2006 NAIA National Championship club at Dana College in Blair, Neb., ranking as high as sixth nationally and receiving the team’s Freshman of the Year award. He placed fourth as a senior at the FHSAA State Championships for Glades Central High School.

Hicks received his bachelor’s in Physical Education from Campbellsville in 2009.

Brad Higginson is entering his first season with Cumberland as the linebacker coach for the Phoenix Football Program. He comes from Manchester University where he spent the past twelve seasons as an assistant football coach. During his time with Manchester, he had the roles of Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach, Linebacker Coach, and Defensive Line Coach. He has mentored two NCAA Division 3 All-Americans and 26 All-HCAC Players for 40 All-HCAC selections. While at Manchester, the Spartans had some of the best teams in school history with multiple 6-4 finishes. Higginson coached 5 Spartans that would break records while at Manchester.
Prior to Manchester, Higginson was a Graduate Assistant Coach at NCAA Division 2 Gannon University. During his time with the Golden Knights, he coached the Defensive Backs in 2007 and the Corners in 2008. While coaching the Golden Knights, Higginson had one PSAC-West All-Conference selection in the secondary.
Higginson’s playing career was at Kentucky Wesleyan College where he was a four-year starter for the defense as a Free Safety and a D2.com honorable mention All-American. He finished his career with the Panthers ranked 6th in Interceptions and 7th in Passes Defended. He holds the single game record of 21 tackles against Campbellsville in 2003 and is also in the top 10 for his efforts against Bacone in 2005.  Higginson also tallied 5 interceptions in 2004 which makes him 10th in single-season rankings. He completed his career with 171.5 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 10 total interceptions in a total of 39 games played. During his time with KWC, Higginson also competed for two years with the basketball program.
Higginson is a native of Poseyville, IN and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer information Systems from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Gannon University. Higginson and his wife Sydney live in Lebanon, TN.