Northwestern University Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips announced Tuesday the signing of Sullivan-Ubben Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Collins to a multi-year contract extension. Collins’ contract has been extended through the 2024-25 campaign. Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald also received an extension.
“At Northwestern we place a premium on ‘institutional fit’, and we have assuredly found leaders for our football and men’s basketball programs that fit this University and our mission to deliver a world-class experience to our student-athletes,” said Phillips. “We are distinct in having head coaches for our two anchor programs who are homegrown. Pat Fitzgerald grew up on the city’s southwest side. Chris Collins attended high school less than 10 miles from Welsh-Ryan Arena. They not only understand this area, they are intimately linked to it, now for many years to come.”
“My family and I could not be more excited to be a part of the Wildcats community for many years to come,” Collins said. “I have absolutely loved coaching here, the support that we’ve received from the University, its leadership and our fans has been exceptional. We love being a part of the Northwestern family and we can’t wait to continue building on the foundation established over the last four seasons.”
Collins guided the Wildcats to a school-record 24 victories, a berth in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal, and the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 2016-17. Northwestern has increased its season win total in each of the four seasons he has been at the helm in Evanston. Collins has guided the ‘Cats to two of the four 20-victory campaigns in school history and, in his short tenure, his student-athletes have earned 15 Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors.
This past season Northwestern earned 10 victories in Big Ten Conference play, the school’s most since 1932-33. The former Illinois Mr. Basketball honoree was recognized for NU’s record-setting season by being named one of four finalists for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year.
