University of Dayton Athletics

Jim Collins joins the Dayton football coaching staff being known as a high energy leader with a proven track record of building and directing successful football programs, developing a winning culture, setting a standard of excellence, emphasizing high academic achievement, developing talent, and aggressively recruiting outstanding student athletes.
 
Collins was most recently at Army West Point (2019) where he was the Director of Player Personnel. 
 
Before that, Collins was the Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Quarterbacks Coach as Saginaw Valley State from 2008-2019. Collins led his team to three straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Championships from 2011-2013 as well as three NCAA Division II playoff appearances (2009, 2011, 2013).
 
Collins’s teams ranked in the Final National Poll twice (2009, 2013) and Final Regional Poll six times (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018). 
 
Collins was also the Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Quarterbacks Coach at Capital University in nearby Columbus, Ohio from 1997-2007. He was named Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on three separate occasions (2001, 2003, 2006). 
 
During his tenure there, Collins led his team to three NCAA Division III Playoff Appearances (2005, 2006, 2007) and his Team was ranked in the Final National Poll 3 times (#3 in 2006, #5 in 2005, #13 in 2007). 
 
Collins’s first shot as head coach was at the University of Dubuque where he was also the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach from 1994-1996. During his brief stint there, Collins began the building process by increasing the roster size by over 50% and his teams set numerous school passing records.
 
Collins got his first Offensive Coordinator job at Illinois Wesleyan University where he was also the Quarterbacks coach and Wide Receivers Coach from 1991-1993. Collins helped lead the team to become 1992 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Champions and also be NCAA Division III Playoff participants. Collins also coached 1992 Conference Player of the Year, QB Tom Monken. 
 
Starting off his coaching career, Collins was a Graduate Assistant Football Coach at Central Michigan in 1990 and 1991. While he was there, Collins helped lead the team to become the 1990 Mid-American Conference Champions and participate in the California Bowl. Collins also Assisted with Defensive Backs.
 
Collins has also been a member of the American Football Coaches Association since 1991 where he has Served on Rules Committee and All-American Committee. 
 
Collins received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Wittenberg University in June, 1988 and received his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration at Central Michigan University in August, 1991.