Northwestern negotiating new deal for coach Chris Collins

Northwestern University is negotiating a new contract for its men's basketball coach, Chris Collins. Sources say the deal aims to extend Collins' time with the team, increase his salary, and enhance support for the coaching staff and program. Collins has gained attention for the open head coaching position at Villanova. His success at Northwestern and his family ties to Philadelphia have made him a strong candidate. His father, Doug, played and coached for the Philadelphia 76ers. Collins became head coach at Northwestern in 2013. Under his leadership, the team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2017. The Wildcats also reached the tournament in 2023 and 2024, winning a first-round game each time. This season, Northwestern started strong with a 10-3 record. However, injuries affected their performance in the Big Ten, leading to an overall record of 17-16 and a 7-13 league finish. In 12 seasons with the Wildcats, Collins has a coaching record of 194-90. Before taking this position, he was an assistant coach at Duke University for 13 years.