Branden Higa

Biography

Branden Higa will enter his second season as head coach of UC Riverside Women's Volleyball in 2026. Higa comes to UC Riverside from California Baptist, where he built a winning tradition and compiled a 209-144 record (.592) in 13 seasons. Higa, who guided the Lancers through their transition to Division I, also spent two years as an assistant coach at Mississippi State, one at Loyola Marymount, and one at Lipscomb. Higa led CBU to earn 14 All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) awards, including the 2024 Libero of the Year and the 2023 Freshman of the Year. The Lancers advanced to the WAC tournament every year they were eligible, and earned a NIVC berth in 2021. In the Division II era, Higa's Lancers enjoyed a No. 1 national ranking and the program's longest winning streak. Higa was named 2017 West Region and PacWest Coach of the Year after guiding CBU to a 20-0 conference mark and 29-1 overall record. Through that time, CBU garnered nine AVCA All-Americans, 15 All-Region honorees, and 25 All-Conference selections. Higa also served as an assistant coach under Dani Busboom-Kelly at the 2017 European Global Challenge in Croatia, winning the U23 Division. While at Mississippi State, he helped the Bulldogs to an improved record each year and finished third in the SEC West. At LMU, the Lions posted a 35-25 record. Higa played collegiately for three seasons under International Volleyball Hall of Famer Marv Dunphy at Pepperdine, earning a double major in international studies and publ