Duke's Chris Collins Says No to ISU
By: WMBD/WYZZ-TV STAFF
Updated: April 30, 2012
WMBD/WYZZ-TV - NORMAL, Ill. -- Doug Collins was such a great player at Illinois State that it's influencing his son's decision not follow dad to Normal.
Saying he wants to be a head coach but "it was not the right fit for me and the university at this time," Duke assistant coach Chris Collins pulled his name out of consideration for the ISU men's basketball job Monday. Collins issued a statement through Duke University.
Collins talked to ISU athletic director Gary Friedman over the weekend. Friedman is looking to replace Tim Jankovich, who left the Redbirds last Thursday to become the coach-in-waiting at Southern Methodist.
Chris' father Doug, the head coach of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, was an All-American player at Illinois State in the early 1970's. Doug Collins still has strong ties the his alma mater which has named its basketball floor after the player who was selected number one in the 1973 NBA draft after his collegiate playing days were over.
Illinois State has also retired Collins' jersey number and placed a statue of its best ever player in front of Redbird Arena.
The younger Collins said he has "a great love and strong emotional ties to" Illinois State. Perhaps too strong to try and coach there.
