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Mike Collins Steps Down as ULM Defensive Coordinator

Mike Collins Steps Down as ULM Defensive Coordinator

Football Sep 02
MONROE, La. – Ten days prior to ULM's season opener at Army West Point, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Mike Collins has resigned from his position.
 
Collins, who was set to begin his fifth season on Matt Viator's ULM coaching staff and his 10th overall on the bayou, informed the Warhawk head coach of his decision around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. He shared the news with the rest of the coaching staff at 1 p.m. and the players at a 4 p.m. team meeting.
 
"There comes a time for everyone when you figure things out and realize it's time to step away, and that time has come for me," Collins said. "Every day, I ask our players to give me their very best, and now, I know that I can't do it for them. What I have to give them right now isn't good enough. The timing isn't ideal, but I want to provide Coach (Matt) Viator, our coaches and players the best chance to move forward."
 
In January, Collins donated a kidney to his sister Katie before returning to work in March.
 
"It has been an unbelievably emotional and physically-draining year for me," Collins said. "I pride myself in coaching with great passion and I just can't provide that for our players right now. I'm at peace with my decision and feel great inside and out.
 
"I appreciate the opportunity Coach Viator gave me to return to my alma mater and coach this great game. I love these players and this coaching staff, and they'll have no bigger fan than me this season."
 
"As disappointed as I am that he's leaving, I respect his decision and just appreciate his hard work and dedication to ULM as well as his loyalty and friendship throughout a lot of years here and at McNeese," Viator said.
 
"Mike is the ultimate guy that you can count on from my point of view. I respect his decision and I'm happy for him, but personally, I'm really disappointed."
 
In 2019, ULM finished fifth in the Sun Belt Conference with 18 takeaways (10 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries) – the program's highest total in six seasons (19 in 2013). The Warhawks recorded at least one takeaway in 10 of their 12 games, including the first nine in a row. ULM forced multiple turnovers in seven games, including a season-high three takeaways at Florida State (two interceptions and one fumble recovery). The Warhawks' best defensive effort came in a 24-14 win at Texas State, limiting the Bobcats to 92 rushing yards and 338 yards total offense.
 
From 2008-12, Collins served on Viator's staff at McNeese. He coached the linebackers in 2008 before being promoted to assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2009. Collins added the role of defensive coordinator to his list of duties for his final two seasons (2011-12).
 
He previously spent five seasons at ULM from 1998-2002, first as linebackers coach for Ed Zaunbrecher in 1998, then as defensive coordinator for Bobby Keasler for three-plus seasons. Collins went 3-4 over the final seven games of the 2002 season as ULM's interim head coach.
 
He began his coaching career at ULM as a graduate assistant for his father Pat Collins in 1983-84. His father led ULM (formerly Northeast Louisiana) to the 1987 NCAA I-AA National Championship.
 
A Monroe, Louisiana, native, Collins became a four-year letterman as a center at ULM (1979-82), playing his first two seasons for John David Crow and his last two for his father.
 
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