Webmaster Note: The writer of the article on MIke Collins (Lauren Vassallo) is a former CT Starters player and coach.

July 26, 2007

     Mike Collins will look to follow Joe Frager and Eric DeMarco’s footsteps as he takes over the head coaching position for the Seymour High School girls basketball program.
     Collins, who turns 26 this week, is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and has a master’s certification from Sacred Heart University.
     Prior to taking the Seymour job, Collins coached girls basketball at Jockey Hollow Middle School in Monroe for two years and JV girls basketball at Newtown High for two more. Collins has also been an assistant coach to DeMarco’s Amateur Athletic Union club team, the Connecticut Starters.
     Collins, a student-athlete in his time at Seymour, said it’s a great way, and a great place, to have his first head coaching position. Before graduating from Seymour, Collins said he felt lucky to watch and learn from then-head coach Frager. Following Frager was DeMarco, and both became role models for Collins.
     "I have a great opportunity to build character successfully and to carry on traditions," Collins said. "I get to work with a great group of girls and I will be upholding the standard of success set before me."
     Athletic director Ed Rostowsky couldn’t be happier with the decision he, teacher/coach Cathy Federowicz and assistant principal Ray Necio made in hiring Collins.
     "We’re thrilled to have a young, energetic coach," Rostowsky said.
     Other than the skills Collins will teach on the court, he stressed the importance of being a student and building character that will carry on in life.
     "Life lessons will be stressed just as much, if not more, than basketball," Collins said.
     Collins is already preparing for the season by contacting players and going to their summer league games. He is also expected to travel with the team to Siena College for a weekend-long team camp, in which he will only be a spectator, due to Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference rules.
     Collins is determined to be a thorough and successful coach as part of a school with prestigious programs.
     "Seymour High School is a great place to coach because it has all the state banners on the wall," he said. "I can point to them and say, ‘We’ll be there.’"