By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – Former Illinois State University All-American basketball player Doug Collins was back in Bloomington-Normal Thursday.
Collins hosted a free basketball clinic for area youth at the YMCA in downtown Bloomington. He was also the keynote speaker at the Y’s inaugural Legacy Dinner.
Collins said he might have grown up in Benton, Ill., but he became a man at ISU.
“There’s a lot of people in this community who are very, very important to me that are still here. There are some who have gone, some who’ve passed away,” said Collins. “Walking in the YMCA today, I think back about the hours I spent in here; coming in and shooting hoops and going up and playing racquetball.”
Podcast: Listen to Collins’ conversation with WJBC’s Adam Studzinski.
Collins hoped the youth he spoke to understand he got to where he is in life by dreaming big and trusting people.
“It’s important for me to let them know that I was a good student, as well as a good athlete, and because of that I’m doing the things I’m doing today” he said.
Collins added ISU head basketball coach Dan Muller has done a great job with the Redbirds.
“Dan is an incredibly competitive guy. He’s a very smart guy,” said Collins. “I think the one thing I talk to him about is just getting stability. It’s hard in college basketball today because you have so many transfers. I think almost 600 kids transferred this year.”
Collins is currently an analyst for ESPN and in the past has announced games. He said in the future he would like to get back to announcing.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
