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Class:2nd Year |
Hometown:High School: |
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David "Aki" Collins joined Head Coach Ed Cooley's staff in May, 2006 after serving three seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall University. Collins has a proven ability to recruit student-athletes who achieve success both on the basketball court as well as in the classroom.
Collins played an instrumental role in Marshall's success on
the basketball court over the past three seasons. During his stay,
the Thundering Herd placed several student-athletes on Conference
USA all-conference teams, including Mark Patton and Markel Humphrey
last season.
The Brooklyn native came to Marshall after three seasons as
an assistant coach at Howard University where he served under head
coach Frankie Allen.
During his tenure, Collins was part of a coaching staff that
turned the team into a highly-successful program. Before his
arrival at Howard, the program posted just three victories in the
previous two seasons. After winning 10 games during the 2000-01
season, the Bison won 18 games in 2001-02 and advanced to the
conference championship game. In three years at Howard, Collins was
part of a coaching staff that averaged nearly 14 wins per season
(41-48).
Collins brought in two pre-season MEAC player of the year
candidates in Aki Thomas (2002) and Kyle Williams (2003), both of
whom transferred to Howard from the University of Colorado,
following Collins when he made the trip back east. He also helped
recruit the 2003 MEAC Player of the Year Ronnie Williams.
Before making the move to Howard, Collins spent three seasons
as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado, one as a
volunteer and two as a full-time assistant. His responsibilities
with the Buffalos included supervising the team managers,
coordinating film exchange, and participating in on-campus
recruiting activities. He coached Jaquay Walls while in Boulder.
Walls went on to become a second-round draft pick by the Indiana
Pacers in 2000.
He began his collegiate career at Morehouse College, before
transferring to Clark University for his sophomore year. He
attended LaSalle Academy in New York, where he led his team to a
26-1 record and the New York City championship as a sophomore.
LaSalle earned a Top 20 pre-season ranking prior to his senior
campaign.
Collins is married to the former Ina Taylor.

