Mike Collins, Ph.D., LCSC Athletics

Reflections

“Coach Collins lecture really opened my eyes about team chemistry and the bond a coach can help bring together a team. When I am a coach I will use some of the tips he gives and strategies to help my team come together as a family.”

Jacob Cano

Kinesiology

“I really enjoyed his presentation. His topics were very important to me as a coach because a lot of what he discussed I would like to incorporate into my program. His speech was very well planned out and gave me information I can use.”

Sara Smith

Nursing

Coaching Like Your Daughter’s on the Team

Mike Collins, Ph.D.

Head Cross Country and Track Coach

Lewis-Clark State College (ID)

About Coach Collins:

Entering his 17th season with the Warriors Coach Collins has turned LCSC into one of the premier running programs in the country. Over the past 14 years Collins’ teams have produced 63 All-Americans, nine conference Runner-of-the-Year winners, one Region I Runner-of-the-Year and champion, and numerous all-conference and all-region selections. Additionally, the Education Division’s Student of the Year has been a cross-country runner four times (2001, 2003, 2008 and 2010) and in 2009 the President’s award that goes to the outstanding graduate was awarded to a cross-country runner (Rosa Bautista). Coach Collins earned Frontier Conference Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year honors for the third consecutive year in 2009 and added the Men's Coach of the Year honor again in 2010 and 2011.

For the past 12 years the women’s cross country team has placed in the top-25 at nationals each year, finishing (chronologically) 15th, ninth, 19th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 19th, 14th, 15th 18th, 11th and eighth in 2012, their best finish ever. A full men’s team qualified for nationals for the first time in 2003 and finished 23rd. The men’s squad has also competed at nationals in each of the past seven years, finishing 21st, 18th, 22nd, 22nd, 19th, as well as a very impressive 4th-place finish in 2011. The men were 15th at nationals in 2012.

Collins works hard to stay on top of the current research, science and methods in regards to coaching his runners. He has a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. in Sport Science from the University of Idaho. All of his research at both schools dealt with improving the performances of endurance athletes.

He continues to serve in a variety of leadership roles within the sport of running, serving as President for the NAIA Cross Country Coaches Association and has been a national rater for the past nine years as well as a member of many coaching committees. This leadership also extends into his other campus work where he is a member of the Lewis-Clark State College Faculty Senate, a committee member on the athletic advisory board and other campus groups.

-Bio and Photo courtesy LCSC Athletics