Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball product receives well-deserved contract extension

Northwestern seems satisfied with its Duke basketball alum, and rightly so.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball product receives well-deserved contract extension
Duke basketball product receives well-deserved contract extension /
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Before Chris Collins left the Duke basketball bench to become the head coach at Northwestern in 2013, the Wildcats had never reached the NCAA Tournament. They've now been twice, including last season as a No. 7 seed after being a No. 8 seed in their first appearance in 2017. And they advanced to the Round of 32 each time.

RELATED: List of Duke's all-time McDonald's All-Americans

So although Collin's overall record at Northwestern (156-162) remains a losing one — perhaps not for long — his success is indisputable given the program's immense struggles across the many decades leading up to his arrival. He was the fastest to 150 wins of any head coach in Wildcats history.

With all that in mind, as ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported this week, it's no wonder Northwestern is finalizing a three-year contract extension with the 49-year-old Collins.

The 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year, whose team was picked to finish last but won a program-record 12 conference games in the regular season to wind up at No. 2 in the standings, was already on contract through the 2024-25 campaign.

Chris Collins, the son of former 11-year NBA head coach Doug Collins, was a four-year Duke basketball guard and a full-time starter as a sophomore on the 1993-94 Final Four team alongside legendary Blue Devil Grant Hill.

In 2000, he returned to Durham as an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski. He remained on the staff for 13 years, coaching many Blue Devil greats, including Jay Williams, Carlos Boozer, Shelden Williams, JJ Redick, and current Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer.

Collins grew up near the Northwestern campus. As a senior at Glenbrook North High School, where Scheyer starred years later, he became a McDonald's All-American.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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