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End of an Era

End of an Era

Basketball coach David Riggins, above, in his office in the 80s. At right, Riggins stands on the football field during his induction into the MHU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007. Far right: The Riggins family (top) early in David’s tenure, and (middle) more recently (l-r) David, Rita, Kyle, Chase’s wife Lauren, and Chase. Far right, bottom: Riggins poses with Pam Weaver and her husband Todd. Weaver also retired in 2018 after ten years as Riggins’ secretary (or, in her words, his “sidekick”).

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End of an Era David Riggins Retires as Head of the Lion Pride

by Rick Baker Interim Athletic Director

Athletic Director David Riggins retired on December 18, 2018. He served Mars Hill for 32 years. Riggins stated, “When Rita and I arrived at Mars Hill in 1986 we agreed to stay until we found a better place. Thirty-two years later we are still here and that says a lot about Mars Hill and the people affiliated with the university. There is simply something about this place.” He assumed the athletic director’s duties on September 1, 1998, after serving as the assistant athletic director at Mars Hill since 1993. He began his head basketball coaching career at MHU in 1986. Riggins is the winningest head men’s basketball coach in school history. He accumulated 431 victories as a head high school and collegiate coach which together spanned 23 years. His high school teams collected eight conference championships and three State Championships while making nine playoff appearances. He guided his Mars Hill teams to three post-season appearances including the 1994 SAC Championship title. He was named the South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 1994. Riggins has been actively involved in NCAA committee work, having served as chair of the NCAA Championships Committee. He also served on the NCAA Legislative Committee, NCAA Budget and Finance Committee, as well as the NCAA Playing Rules Committee. Riggins served two years as vice chair of the NCAA Division II Management Council. He also served on the NCAA Division II game environments committee. That group initiated its work in July of 2007 with a summit held in Washington D.C., which Riggins chaired. He also chaired the NCAA task force regarding NCAA Division II eligibility issues. During his tenure at Mars Hill University, he coached 16 All-Conference players, one All-American, two-All-Region players, two SAC Freshman of the Year, one SAC Player of the Year, one SAC Male Athlete of the Year, and 11 of his players entered the school’s 1,000-point club. Riggins has the distinction of having three former players who have been inducted into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame. Riggins was inducted into the Mars Hill Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

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