Craig Collins was named head coach of the Chicago State track and field program in December of 2011. Collins is responsible for all aspects of the Cougars’ men’s & women’s indoor and outdoor teams.
Since taking over the program, Collins' student-athletes have set school records in 38 different events. This total includes records for men's indoor (9), men's outdoor (8), women's indoor (12) and women's outdoor (9).
Jaya Emerson graduated in 2014 with school records in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), weight throw, discus, hammer and javelin. She was named Chicago State's 2013-14 Female Senior Athlete of the Year for her decorated career.
Collins’ first full semester as CSU head coach in 2012 was highlighted by the performance of Kelvin White. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native was named the 2012 Great West Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year. White helped CSU post its best ever finish in the event with a fourth-place showing at the GWC Indoor Championships. White shattered personal-best, CSU indoor and GWC indoor records by winning his second consecutive GWC 60-meter hurdles title with a time of 8.04 and also placed third in the long jump at a mark of 22-3.50.
Collins came to CSU with coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels for over a decade and has tutored numerous athletes at both levels to national recognition in various events.
Collins served as the assistant coach for Robert Morris University for two seasons, where he coached sprints, jumps and hurdles. Prior to his stint at RMU, Collins coached for fourteen years in the Chicago Public Schools system as head coach at Phillips, North Lawndale College Prep and Kenwood Academy.
During his coaching career, Collins has produced 21 IHSA state finalists, 14 NCAA Division I regional competitors with three D-I national qualifiers, and 11 USA Track & Field Junior All-Americans.
Collins competed as a sprinter at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., from 1986-88 before earning his bachelor’s degree in 1991.
After graduating from IU, he became a member of USA Track & Field and presided over the Chicago Striders, a non-profit track and field youth organization that exposes inner city youth to the fundamentals of track and field. Collins also received his Level II certificate in jumps from USATF.
