New Mexico Hires Naya Higashijima as Head Swimming Coach
The University of New Mexico on Tuesday hired Naya Higashijima as the program’s new head swimming and diving coach.
Higashijima has spent the last four years as the associate coach at Southern Methodist University. She’s spent 20 years as a coach in Division I after an All-American swim career at Oregon State.
“I want to thank Eddie Nunez and Ryan Berryman for believing in my ability to lead the Women’s Swimming and Diving team,” Higashijima said in a university release. “I am committed to contribute to the culture of excellence that coaches and the athletic department staff have built at the University of New Mexico over the years. I am very thrilled and humbled for this amazing opportunity to work with people who are passionate about the student-athletes’ success. They truly care about each one of the student-athletes and I am looking forward to working with our student-athletes.”
Higashijima spent the last four years on staff at SMU, under the now retired Steve Collins. (The Mustangs this week hired Ozzie Quevedo as Collins’ replacement.) SMU has finished second in the American Athletic Conference each of the last three seasons on the women’s side, with 11 individual and three relay conference titles. Higashijima helped Olympian Luana Alonso make it to NCAAs this year.
Before SMU, Higashijima spent seven seasons at UCLA, including as associate head coach. The Bruins posted six top-25 finishes at NCAAs and five top-five results at Pac-12s. Under her watch, UCLA had 53 All-Americans, 13 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers, six U.S. national teamers and one Olympian. She arrived in Westwood after six seasons as an assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams at UC Santa Barbara.
Higashijima was a two-time All-American at Oregon State in the 200 fly. The native of Kawaguchi, Japan, is the daughter of Japanese record-holder Shinji Higashijima and Japanese champion Kaoru Higashijima.
“I’m excited to bring Naya Higashijima to Albuquerque to lead our women’s swimming and diving program,” New Mexico Vice President/Director of Athletics Eddie Nunez said. “Naya has been a part of several very successful programs and she believes in the total student-athlete experience. Her track record of championships and academic successes will make her successful with our program.”
“I am very excited that Naya has been selected as the Head Coach at New Mexico,” Collins said. “Naya is a great person and coach who cares about her athletes as people. Her contributions to our team’s success have been immeasurable and it has been a great pleasure to share the pool deck with her at SMU every day over the past four seasons. She has the experience of developing and coaching swimmers at the highest level and at the same time preparing them to be successful in life. Her experience at SMU combined with working with great coaches at Oregon State, USCB, and UCLA has prepared her for this opportunity. The future of New Mexico Swimming and Diving under Naya’s leadership is bright and I wish her and the Lobos the greatest success.”
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