Doug Collins is one of Illinois State University’s most famous basketball players. Collins played for the Redbirds from 1969-1973, where he established himself as one of the greatest players in school history. During his four years at Illinois State, Collins set multiple school records and earned numerous accolades.

As a freshman in 1969-70, Collins led the Redbirds in scoring with 26.3 points per game, earning First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honors. He continued to excel in his sophomore year, averaging 29.1 points per game and leading the MVC in scoring. In his junior year, Collins set a school record by averaging 32.6 points per game, earning him First Team All-American honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Sporting News.

Collins’ senior year was also a standout one, as he averaged 29.1 points per game and led the Redbirds to a 22-4 record and a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Collins finished his collegiate career as Illinois State’s all-time leading scorer with 2,240 points, a record that still stands today.

Following his collegiate career, Collins was drafted first overall in the 1973 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He went on to have a successful 8-year NBA career, earning All-Star honors four times and leading the league in free throw percentage twice. After retiring from playing, Collins became a successful NBA coach, leading the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers over the course of his coaching career. Collins has also worked as a television analyst for NBA games and the Olympics.