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UIC's Collins announces retirement

Tue 20th, July 2010

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Longtime men's head basketball coach Jimmy Collins announced his retirement Tuesday after 14 years at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The move is effective August 31, 2010 and UIC director of athletics Jim Schmidt said the school will conduct a national search for a new coach.

"It is difficult to leave UIC and the great student-athletes who are returning," said Collins. "After much introspection, I feel it is my time to enjoy retirement and have more time with my family. I have enjoyed the opportunity to do something that is dear to my heart for so long, and that is special."

Collins took the job at UIC in March of 1996 and was the longest tenured NCAA Division I men's basketball coach in the state of Chicago. He leaves as the all-time winningest coach in school history with a 218-208 record and guided the Flames to three NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 2002, 2004) and one NIT bid (2003).

Collins topped the 20-win plateau on four occasions, including a school-record 24 victories in 2003-04 when the program captured its second Horizon League tournament championship under his direction.

Before coming to UIC, Collins spent 13 seasons as an assistant to Lou Henson at Illinois.