With the clock winding down in triple overtime, then-GBN guard Chris Collins’ (‘92) would-be game-winning shot hit the heel of the basket and fell to the hardwood floor at the 1992 super-sectional game at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Although the 75-73 loss ended his high school basketball career, Collins has returned to the arena over two decades later, but this time as the Northwestern mens basketball head coach.
Collins was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1992 as the best high school basketball player in the state. He moved to Northbrook in seventh grade after his father Doug Collins was named head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
“When I first came into [GBN], there wasn’t a whole lot of basketball success,” said Chris Collins. “A lot of people wanted me to go to another high school out of junior high because they didn’t think it was possible for Glenbrook North to be good at basketball, and I didn’t believe that. I loved my friends and I loved the school and everything about [GBN]. I was motivated by the challenge of trying to build a program there.”
In Collins’ limited role on the varsity team as a freshman, the team finished with seven wins. In his senior season, Collins led the team to a 27-win season en route to a scholarship to play at Duke University.
“Even though I didn’t get all the way to win a state [championship], to be able to put the seeds in the ground and help the program get its start to the point where the teams have gone down state … I’m very proud of that,” Collins said.
Four years after graduating from Duke, Collins was offered a spot as an assistant coach there, where he served for 13 years. During his tenure at Duke, Collins worked as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2008 and 2012 United States Olympic basketball teams in addition to winning two national championships, one with GBN alumnus Jon Scheyer (‘06) on the roster. Scheyer recently joined the Duke staff as a special assistant following Collins’ departure.
“I’ll never forget the first time talking to [Collins], how I had already talked to other coaches who had recruited me, and it was funny for me being able to say ‘Hey, we played Niles North last week’ and he would know what I’m talking about,” said Scheyer. “We connected instantly … We talk weekly. We always have, since I [got] home. He’s like a big brother to me. I’m so happy for him, getting the job at Northwestern. His influence at [GBN] and at Duke was huge.”
Collins said he made his return to GBN while recruiting Scheyer for Duke.
“It was my first time back in the gym, probably in about 12, 13 years, and I got really emotional when I came into the school because it brought back all the memories of all the hard work that I put in to get to where I am today,” said Collins. “I wouldn’t be here if not for my time at [GBN] and the people that helped me there, whether that be my coaches, my teachers, [principal E.J. Duffy]. It’s a big reason why I’ve been able to have the success that I’ve had, and I’ll never forget those things.”
Dean John Leonard served as an assistant coach during Collins’ last three seasons in high school. Leonard said Collins has the basketball background and competitiveness to be successful at Northwestern, but he is facing an “uphill battle” in his first head coaching job.
“Recruiting is going to be a real struggle for him,” said Leonard. “If he can get over the recruiting hump, I think the world is at his feet, but that’s a big ‘if’ right now.”
Like Leonard, Scott Lidskin, assistant boys varsity basketball coach, said recruiting will be one of Collins’ biggest hurdle as a head coach. However, Lidskin, who said he has known Collins for over 11 years, said Collins’ pedigree with coaching professional players in the Olympics will be an asset as he recruits high school students.
“Nowadays, the biggest thing with high school kids is everyone wants to try to play in the NBA,” said Lidskin. “I don’t think you can go to Northwestern and get there, but I think it’s an advantage having a guy who has a lot of NBA background.”
Collins was named the Northwestern coach on March 27. In its 75 years of existence, the school has never reached the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m not going to be satisfied with just going to the tournament one time, to me that’s not the end result,” said Collins. “Now [getting to the tournament] is going to be great. It’ll be exciting, but the end result for me is to build a program that is respected and that has good players and good character kids that want to come here and be a part of a great school and try to succeed at the highest level, and really that’s my vision. That’s my goal and that’s what I’m going to work hard to try to achieve.”