LAS CRUCES, N.M. — NM State Athletics announced Wednesday, Oct. 29, a transition in leadership for the Aggies softball team ahead of the 2026 season, with Assistant Coach Benet Higgs as interim head coach in place of Head Coach Kathy Rodolph and Associate Head Coach Cat Heifner.
Rodolph, the longest-tenured head coach in program history, has led NM State softball for 22 seasons, guiding them to multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Under her leadership, the program became a consistent contender in the Western Athletic Conference and, more recently, Conference USA.
Higgs was welcomed to the softball program in the summer of 2023 and will be going into her third season with the team, previously serving as a recruiting coordinator for over a decade. The Aggies have earned a stunning 57 wins and eight all-CUSA awards over two seasons.
Higgs spent 12 years as an assistant coach with Stony Brook University’s softball program, where she helped the Seawolves earn 60 wins during her last two years with the them and establish a strong regional presence. Her experience in player development and recruiting coordination is expected to provide continuity and stability for the Aggies as they enter this transitional period.
The NM State Athletics Department has not yet announced a timeline for naming a permanent head coach, but Athletic Director Joe Fields commented on the news, thanking both Rodolph and Heifner for their time with the Aggies.
“We want to thank Kathy and Cat for their dedication to NM State Softball and their contributions to building the program,” Fields said. “As we look ahead, we’re confident that Benet Higgs has the experience and leadership to guide the team through this transition. We’re excited about the future of Aggies Softball and remain committed to supporting our student-athletes and position the program for continued success.”
For more details, visit the official release at https://nmstatesports.com/
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