FBS coordinator announces he’s stepping down 10 days ahead of season opener

Louisiana-Monroe is scrambling to settle its coaching staff after defensive coordinator Mike Collins said he is stepping down this week.

He said in a statement that he asks for the players to give him their very best, and he cannot do the same. Although, he noted that he is at peace with my decision and “feel great inside and out.” The timing is difficult because ULM opens its season next week against Army.

“It has been an incredibly emotionally and physically draining year for me,” he said in the statement. “I pride myself in coaching with great passion, and I just can’t provide that for our players right now.”

According to his school bio, Collins returned to his alma mater as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in January 2016, and was set to begin his fourth season on Matt Viator’s coaching staff and his ninth overall at ULM.

He previously coached at Sam Houston State, and from 2008-12, Collins served on Viator’s staff at McNeese State.

During his tenure in Huntsville, Texas, a total of 19 defensive players earned all-conference honors, including linebacker P.J. Hall, who was named the Southland Conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2014 and became the top defensive player in balloting for the Jerry Rice Award, presented to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision’s Freshman of the Year. In 2015, Hall earned First-Team All-Southland honors.

Mike Collins Steps Down as ULM Defensive Coordinator pic.twitter.com/tvb0ku8jrs

— ULM Football (@ULM_FB) September 2, 2020

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.