Bryan Collins Obituary – Death: Ex-LIU and Stony Brook Football Coach, Bryan Collins Passes Away
Bryan Collins Obituary News: Bryan Collins was the football defensive coordinator at Stony Brook University and a resident of Long Island, New York.
Who was Bryan Collins?
Bryan Collins was given a promotion as defensive coordinator for the Seawolves in January 2023. Collins is in charge of all facets of the team’s defense as he begins his third season on Coach Priore’s staff. He joined the program in 2021 and worked as the Seawolves’ defensive line coach for the first two seasons before moving into his current position.
Collins had a distinguished coaching career at LIU Post before his stint at Stony Brook, where he led the team for 23 seasons. He amassed 162 victories throughout his tenure, making him the program’s all-time winningest coach.
Under his direction, LIU Post won eight Northeast 10 Conference titles and made it to the NCAA tournament six times. Collins received seven awards, including Coach of the Year for the Northeast 10 Conference in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2014, 2016, and 2018. 16 winning seasons and three undefeated campaigns in 2002, 2016, and 2018 were made possible under his direction.
Collins worked for LIU Post from 2006 to 2017 as the director of athletics in addition to his position as head coach. He was a key contributor to the department becoming one of Division II’s most prestigious and successful at this time.
Collins oversaw the football program’s merger with LIU Brooklyn, as well as its promotion to Division I in 2019. He was one of the Eddie Robinson Award contenders in 2021 after leading LIU to its first two victories as an FCS program.
Bryan Collins Early Life
Collins started his coaching career at LIU Post in 1991, first working there as an assistant defensive coach and defensive line coach until 1993. From 1994 to 1996, he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Before taking over as head coach in 1998, Collins returned to LIU Post in 1996 and 1997 to serve as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Collins played linebacker for the Red Storm football team when a student-athlete at St. John’s University prior to beginning his coaching career.
Collins received the Dr. Peter Vitulli Award, which is given to the student-athlete who best demonstrates the qualities of bravery, tenacity, commitment, and selflessness in the pursuit of the highest standards of sportsmanship. Collins graduated with a Business Administration bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University in 1987.