Tom Collen

American college basketball coach From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Duane Collen (born December 21, 1953) is an American college basketball coach who was most recently the women's basketball head coach at the University of Arkansas.

Born (1953-12-21) December 21, 1953 (age 72)
Lancaster, Ohio, U.S.
AlmamaterBGSU ('77)
1981–1984Miami (OH) (asst.)
1984–1986Utah (asst.)
Quick facts Biographical details, Born ...
Tom Collen
Biographical details
Born (1953-12-21) December 21, 1953 (age 72)
Lancaster, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materBGSU ('77)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1981–1984Miami (OH) (asst.)
1984–1986Utah (asst.)
1986–1993Purdue (asst.)
1993–1997Arkansas (asst.)
1997–2002Colorado State
2003–2007Louisville
2007–2014Arkansas
Head coaching record
Overall349–160 (.686)
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Early life

Collen was born December 21, 1953[1] in Lancaster, Ohio, and received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Bowling Green State University in 1977. He earned a master's degree in health education from Miami University (of Ohio) in 1982, and another in 1983 in recreational programming.[2]

Coaching career

Collen began his coaching career at Miami University in 1981, where he worked for three seasons. He was assistant coach at the University of Utah from 1984 to 1986, and at the Purdue University from 1986 to 1993.[2]

In 1993, he moved to the University of Arkansas, where he was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under head coach Gary Blair until 1997. He was named assistant head coach for his last two seasons.[3] The year after he left, Arkansas went to the 1998 Final Four of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship. Arkansas' women's athletic director Bev Lewis said "his reputation as a recruiter is among the best in the country."[4]

Collen left the University of Arkansas in 1997 to take the head coaching job at Colorado State University. Colorado State went to the NCAA Tournament four times in five seasons under his leadership.[4] In 1999, his team played in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, and Collen was named coach of the year.[5] His winning percentage of 79.6% (129 wins and 33 losses) ranked fourth among Division I women's basketball coaches at the time.[6]

After the 2001–2002 season, Collen accepted a position at Vanderbilt University but resigned the next day over a discrepancy discovered on his resume.[4] He had listed two master's degrees from Miami University, but Miami had reported only one degree in two subjects. Miami later acknowledged its mistake.[7] By then both Vanderbilt and Colorado State had new head coaches. Collen took a year off from coaching, working as a television commentator and a consultant for the WNBA.[7]

On March 11, 2003, the University of Louisville hired Collen as women's basketball head coach; this was the second time athletic director Tom Jurich hired Collen to that position after doing the same at Colorado State in 1997. During Collen's four seasons, Louisville had an 87–37 record and made the NCAA tournament three times.[8]

In 2007, Collen returned to Arkansas, this time as women's basketball head coach.[5] Under his leadership the team began the 2007 season with a school record 15 consecutive wins.[9]

Collen was dismissed from his position at the University of Arkansas on March 7, 2014, following a 19–11 season.[10]

Head coaching record

More information Season, Team ...
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Colorado State (Western Athletic Conference) (1997–2002)
1997–98 Colorado State 24–611–3T-2ndNCAA 2nd Round
1998–99 Colorado State 33–314–01stNCAA Sweet Sixteen
1999–00 Colorado State 23–1010–43rdWNIT Quarterfinals
2000–01 Colorado State 25–710–43rdNCAA 2nd Round
2001–02 Colorado State 24–712–21stNCAA 1st Round
Colorado State: 129–33 (.796)57–13 (.814)
Louisville (Conference USA) (2003–2005)
2003–04 Louisville 20–1011–3T-2ndWNIT 1st Round
2004–05 Louisville 22–911–32ndNCAA 1st Round
Louisville (C-USA): 42–19 (.689)22–6 (.786)
Louisville Cardinals (Big East Conference) (2005–2007)
2005–06 Louisville 19–1010–65thNCAA 1st Round
2006–07 Louisville 27–810–6T-5thNCAA 2nd Round
Louisville (Big East): 46–18 (.719)20–12 (.625)
Louisville (Overall): 88–37 (.704)
Arkansas (Southeastern Conference) (2007–2014)
2007–08 Arkansas 17–132–1211th
2008–09 Arkansas 19–146–88thWNIT 3rd Round
2009–10 Arkansas 12–184–12T-12th
2010–11 Arkansas 21–126–109thWNIT Quarterfinals
2011–12 Arkansas 24–910–6T-4thNCAA 2nd Round
2012–13 Arkansas 20–136–10T-8thWNIT 2nd Round
2013–14 Arkansas 19–116–10T-11th
Arkansas: 132–90 (.595)40–68 (.370)
Total:349–160 (.686)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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References

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