From Duke to Northwestern, one elite academic institution to another. Northwestern University officially introduced Chris Collins to the media today as the 24th head coach of NU college basketball yesterday. Chris Collins was the Associate Head Coach at Duke University until the Blue Devils were eliminated by Syracuse.
Said Collins: “Northwestern University is a special place that strives for excellence in every regard, and our program will be no different. I can’t possibly thank Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke University enough for preparing me for this day.”
A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Collins has served on head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s staff at Duke since 2000, and was named Associate Head Coach in 2008. During his 13 seasons on the Blue Devils’ staff, Duke won eight ACC tournaments, four ACC regular seasons, and national titles in 2001 and 2010.
Don’t expect him to be bringing his father, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins with for the ride though. Collins was asked if his Dad, the former Chicago Bulls coach could become an assistant?
“Well, he’s a head coach in the NBA right now. That would be quite a pay cut,” he said.
During his preps career at Glenbrook North High School Collins won Illinois’ ‘Mr. Basketball’ Award. He played at Duke from 1993-96. He currently ranks 11th among Duke’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals/attempts. Collins was a member of a Duke senior class that earned 83 total victories, three NCAA Tournament bids, one Final Four appearance, two ACC regular season championships and an ACC tournament title.
“Being at Duke, every night we played was the other team’s Super Bowl. The Big Ten was the best basketball conference in the country this year,” he said at today’s presser.
Chris Collins is a skilled recruiter. When Bruce Weber was at the height of his powers with the Illini, he went after a blue-chip prospect at Glenbrook North named Jon Scheyer; who was coached in high school by Dave Weber, Bruce’s brother. As you obviously know, Chris Collins was instrumental in getting Scheyer to leave the state and family allegiance behind, and instead come to Durham. Scheyer was a big star of the Duke Blue Devils 2010 National title team.
“I will give my all to make this program respected nationwide. It is not about making just one NCAA Tournament,” Collins said today.
Watch the whole press conference here
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