Widener University announced Monday that Isaac Collins, defensive coordinator for The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., has been named the university's 22nd football coach. Collins becomes the first African-American head football coach in Widener history, and only the sixth active minority head football coach in NCAA Division III.
Widener Athletic Director Jack Shafer made the announcement to the team and assistant coaches prior to Collins arrival on campus Monday evening to assume head coaching duties.
Though Collins has served as The Citadel's defensive coordinator for four years, he is no stranger to the region. He previously served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Delaware in 2005 and at Lehigh University from 2000-03. In addition, Collins participated in the National Football League Minority Fellowship Program, completing coaching internships for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001 and the New York Giants in 1999.
“We were looking for a head coach whose values align with Widener's mission and who has the ability to lead our team to success on and off the field. We found both of those qualities in Isaac Collins,” said Widener University President James T. Harris III, a member of the NCAA Executive Committee and chair of the NCAA Division III.
“We had an impressive group of candidates for the position and we are excited to have a coach with Isaac's credentials lead The Pride into a new decade on the football field,” said Widener University Athletic Director Jack Shafer.
As defensive coordinator at The Citadel, Collins' schemed to face teams such as Clemson, Florida, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Wisconsin in addition to the Bulldogs' annual meeting against conference rival and Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse Appalachian State. In 2007, Collins' defense led the Southern Conference in total defense, and in his four years, he coached nine All-Southern Conference defenders.
“Widener has a great football tradition and I am honored to be selected to continue that tradition,” Collins said. “I'm familiar with the high level of competition in the Middle Atlantic Conference, and I look forward to the challenge.”
In addition to coaching at The Citadel, the University of Delaware, and Lehigh University, Collins was an assistant coach at Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y. from 1994-98, serving as defensive coordinator in his final year there. He was also an assistant at Columbia University in New York City from 1998-2000, and the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. from 2004-2005.
Collins earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1994 from the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., where he was captain of the football team in 1993 and was named conference offensive player of the year in 1992. Collins and his wife, Ada, have three children Kayla, 9, Jaylen, 8, and Alina, 11 months.
Other than Collins, there are only five minority head football coaches at the Division III level including Pedro Arruza at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, Robby Long at DePauw University in Indiana, Bob Owens at Chapman University in California, Sherman Wood at Salisbury University in Maryland and Ordell Walker at Greenville College in Illinois. The figure excludes historically black colleges and universities.
Former Widener head coach Dave Wood resigned on January 5 due to medical reasons and to spend more time with his family. In seven years as head coach, Wood amassed a 41-32 record. The Pride won the Middle Atlantic Conference championship in 2007 and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference bowl games in 2005 and 2006.
Widener won NCAA Division III national championships in 1977 and 1981 and has made 12 trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs. In addition, The Pride has won a record 17 Middle Atlantic Conference titles. Widener has sent several players to the NFL ranks including former Pro-Bowl players Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and Joe Fields and Jack Klotz.
Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is comprised of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate's, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. The university's campuses in Chester, Exton, and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., serve some 6,700 students. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.
