Villanova Coaching Search: Chris Collins Off the Table?

One of the names Villanova Men’s Basketball has reportedly considered to replace former head coach Kyle Neptune is Northwestern head man Chris Collins, owner of three trips to the NCAA Tournament in 12 seasons with those Wildcats.

However, a March 21 report from senior ESPN college football writer Pete Thamel suggests that Villanova might need to look elsewhere for their next coach. “Northwestern is in deep discussions on a new contract for coach Chris Collins [that] will give him additional years, a raise and provide more resources for the staff and program,” says Thamel’s report, posted to Twitter. “A new deal is expected to be formalized in the coming weeks.”

Collins’ 194-189 record in 12 seasons in Chicago isn’t the most inspiring, but he has advanced into the Round of 32 in each of those Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament appearances… and brought Northwestern to relevance after decades in the wilderness. Their only tournament appearances in program history came under his guidance.

That up-and-down track record would certainly make Collins a controversial hire among Villanova fans, so perhaps it’s for the best if Northwestern ends up retaining him. Other names on the Wildcats’ list include Maryland’s Kevin Willard, New Mexico’s Richard Pitino, UCLA’s Mick Cronin and Princeton’s Mitch Henderson: click the hyperlinks for Philadelphia Sports Now’s coverage of their respective candidacies.

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