Bobby Collins (basketball coach)
Encyclopedia
Bobby Collins is the head men's basketball coach at Winston-Salem State University
. He is the team's first head coach since beginning their transition to Division I competition. Collins previously served as the head men's coach at Hampton University
Collins played basketball collegiately at Eastern Kentucky University
from 1987 until 1991, earning All-Ohio Valley Conference
Honorable Mention in his senior season. After earning his degree in business administration and management, he played one season overseas in Finland
before returning to his alma mater to spend two years as an admissions counselor. In 1994, Collins took his first head coaching job as an assistant to Jeff Capel II
with the Old Dominion Monarchs.
He left Old Dominion after one season to join the coaching staff at Hampton. As a part of the Pirates' staff, Collins helped a program that was transitioning to Division I upon his arrival become a constant presence at the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
. This rise to the top reached its apex with back-to-back MEAC tournament titles in 2001 and 2002. The 2001 Pirates squad pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in the history of the NCAA tournament
, playing as a 15-seed and defeating the second-seeded Iowa State Cyclones
in the first round.
Following the 2002 season, Hampton's then-head coach Steve Merfeld
left the school to take over at the University of Evansville
. Shortly thereafter, Collins was promoted to the position as head coach, his first-ever head coaching position.
While Collins was still able to be competitive with the Pirates, he was never able to quite match the same high level of success set by Merfeld. Hampton won 19 games in Collins' first season, a school record for most wins by a first-year coach, but fell just short of a third consecutive MEAC title with a loss to South Carolina State
in the MEAC championship game. The Pirates returned to the MEAC title game in 2005, but once again fell short, this time falling to Delaware State
. Collins was, however, named the MEAC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
In 2006, after finishing in a tie for 5th during the regular season, the Pirates made a surprise run through the MEAC tournament and won their third MEAC title, and their first with Collins at the helm. However, their 16-15 record before the NCAA tournament
sent Hampton to the opening-round game in Dayton, Ohio
, where the Pirates were eliminated by Monmouth
. Just two days after the loss, Collins resigned as the head coach of the Hampton Pirates.
Collins returned to his home state in September 2006 when he was hired to lead the Winston-Salem State Rams in their first season of Division I competition. In his first season with the Rams, playing as an independent
with a schedule mostly of road games, Collins managed a 5-24 record. The 2007–2008 season, Collins' second with the team, will mark the Rams' first season of MEAC competition.
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University , a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, is a historically black public research university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.Winston-Salem State has been...
. He is the team's first head coach since beginning their transition to Division I competition. Collins previously served as the head men's coach at Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
Collins played basketball collegiately at Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
from 1987 until 1991, earning All-Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
Honorable Mention in his senior season. After earning his degree in business administration and management, he played one season overseas in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
before returning to his alma mater to spend two years as an admissions counselor. In 1994, Collins took his first head coaching job as an assistant to Jeff Capel II
Jeff Capel II
Jeff Capel II is an assistant National Basketball Association coach, and a former college basketball head coach. He was head coach of the Old Dominion Monarchs team from 1994 to 2001, as well as the North Carolina A&T Aggies from 1993 to 1994 and Fayetteville State University from 1989 to 1993...
with the Old Dominion Monarchs.
He left Old Dominion after one season to join the coaching staff at Hampton. As a part of the Pirates' staff, Collins helped a program that was transitioning to Division I upon his arrival become a constant presence at the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
. This rise to the top reached its apex with back-to-back MEAC tournament titles in 2001 and 2002. The 2001 Pirates squad pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in the history of the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, playing as a 15-seed and defeating the second-seeded Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team represents Iowa State University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.-Johnny Orr era :...
in the first round.
Following the 2002 season, Hampton's then-head coach Steve Merfeld
Steve Merfeld
-External links:* at bradleybraves.com...
left the school to take over at the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
. Shortly thereafter, Collins was promoted to the position as head coach, his first-ever head coaching position.
While Collins was still able to be competitive with the Pirates, he was never able to quite match the same high level of success set by Merfeld. Hampton won 19 games in Collins' first season, a school record for most wins by a first-year coach, but fell just short of a third consecutive MEAC title with a loss to South Carolina State
South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University is a historically black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only state funded, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- Colleges, departments,...
in the MEAC championship game. The Pirates returned to the MEAC title game in 2005, but once again fell short, this time falling to Delaware State
Delaware State University
Delaware State University , is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware, and there are two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware...
. Collins was, however, named the MEAC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
In 2006, after finishing in a tie for 5th during the regular season, the Pirates made a surprise run through the MEAC tournament and won their third MEAC title, and their first with Collins at the helm. However, their 16-15 record before the NCAA tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
sent Hampton to the opening-round game in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, where the Pirates were eliminated by Monmouth
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
. Just two days after the loss, Collins resigned as the head coach of the Hampton Pirates.
Collins returned to his home state in September 2006 when he was hired to lead the Winston-Salem State Rams in their first season of Division I competition. In his first season with the Rams, playing as an independent
NCAA Division I independent schools (basketball)
NCAA Division I independent basketball schools are four-year institutions that do not belong to a basketball conference or a primary conference for all sports teams.-Schools:...
with a schedule mostly of road games, Collins managed a 5-24 record. The 2007–2008 season, Collins' second with the team, will mark the Rams' first season of MEAC competition.