Morris Higginbotham

In 1952, Higginbotham began his coaching career at Walnut Grove High School, where he compiled a record of seven wins, two losses and one tie (7–2–1) during his lone season there.^[2] From 1953 to 1957 he led West Blocton High School to an overall record of 41 wins, six losses and two ties (41–6–2).^[2] His tenure there included three undefeated seasons and for his efforts the field bears his name.^[3] From West Blocton Higginbotham coached one year at B.B. Comer High School (5–4–1) before he started his three-year tenure at Enterprise High School, where he compiled an overall record of 27 wins, two losses and one tie (27–2–1).^[2] From Enterprise, he moved to Hueytown High School, where he compiled a record of 23 wins, 12 losses and three ties (23–12–3) during his first tenure at the school.^[2]

After a stint as head coach at Livingston College, Higginbotham returned to high school coaching at Scottsboro High School for two seasons (13–9) and then at Hewitt-Trussville High School from 1972 to 1975 where he compiled a record of 24 wins, 14 losses and one tie (24–14–1).^[2] He then concluded his coaching career with his second stint at Hueytown where he compiled a record of 15 wins, 24 losses and one tie (15–24–1) before his retirement after the 1981 season.^[2]

In 1993 Higginbotham was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his career in coaching.^[4] In his 27 years as a high school head coach, he compiled an overall record of 190 wins, 73 losses and eight ties (190–73–8) and five state football championships.^[4]

In February 1967, Livingston officials announced the hiring of Higginbotham as the Tigers' new head coach.^[5] In his second season, Higginbotham led Livingston to an appearance in the inaugural Peanut Bowl at Dothan, but lost to Ouachita Baptist University 39–6 in the game.^[6] Following the 1969 season he returned to coach high school football at Scottsboro High School with Mickey Andrews serving as his replacement at Livingston.^[7] For his career at Livingston, Higginbotham compiled a record of 19 wins, nine losses and two ties (19–9–2).