Phil Collins (Sandburg Class of 1978)


Before 1978 SANDBURG graduate Phil Collins eventually became one of the toughest defensive players at West Virginia University and a draft choice of the Boston Celtics in the NBA, he was a dominating force on the court for the Eagles.
With Collins at center in the 1975-76 season, the Eagles finished 16-9, winning the SICA West - the first conference title since 1962. He averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds. As a junior in the 1976-77 season, Phil averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Eagles (20-8) won conference and regional crowns. Then as a senior, Sandburg won conference and regional titles, losing 43-39 to rival Lockport in the sectional final. Collins rewrote the records set by Hall of Famer Lance Roberts in 1962. Sandburg finished 23-5 as Collins averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds. Under the direction of Coach Bill Reynolds at Sandburg, Collins earned Star Newspaper All-Area status during 1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons. He was also honored on the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times All-Chicagoland teams.As a senior he was honored on several All-State teams..
Collins then continued his athletic career at Dodge City Junior College, where he earned second team All-American honors.
West Virginia coach Gale Catlett found out about Collins through his junior college coach Duncan Reid. Collins then became West Virginia’s No. 1 enforcer on some really good Mountaineer basketball teams in the early 1980s, including WVU’s 1982 squad that won a nation’s-best 23 games in a row, made a brief appearance in the top 10 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. It was the school’s first NCAA trip in 15 years.
Collins was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the NBA, but was released in the last week of training camp. Today, Collins is the area commercial sales manager for an electrical and lighting distributor in northeast Ohio. He is remarried and has two daughters with his first wife – Kelsey and Katie – and two step-daughters, Allyson and Kristen, with his current wife. He retired in February, 2023.