Jimmy Collins Retires as UIC Men's Basketball Coach

Jimmy Collins and the UIC Athletic Department announced today the coach will retire after 14-seasons. Over his time as head coach he guided UIC to the first three NCAA tournament berths in school history. He is the all-time winningest coach in school history with 218 victories from 1996-2010.

Collins has this to say in a new release posted on the school athletic department website: "It is difficult to leave UIC and the great student-athletes who are returning. After much introspection, I feel it is my time to enjoy retirement and have more time with my family.

"I thank all the people who have made my time in coaching so memorable and fulfilling," Collins continued. "I thank Coach Lou Henson for my start at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1983, and all the wonderful people I met and worked with along the way. I thank the people at UIC for their confidence in my ability, especially my former and current assistant coaches, directors of basketball operations and support staff. I also thank the chancellor, the vice chancellor for student affairs and the students for their unwavering support."

Although the Flames finished last season 8-22 overall and 3-15 in the Horizon League, Collins will always be remembered for not only his three NCAA Tournament appearances, but also for lifting up the program in general.

UIC director of athletics Jim Schmid will conduct a national search for Collins' replacement.