JENNY COLLINS MORRIS
CSHS Class of 1981

Jenny’s high school career began in 1977-78. Aside from maintaining A’s and B’s in the classroom she dabbled
in track, senior P.E. leaders, Varsity Club Vice President, (senior year), National Honors Society, played club
volleyball for Windy City VBC, worked in her parents’ store, waitressed, and yes, even tried synchronized
swimming (briefly) before focusing on her two favorite activities–playing volleyball and basketball. At Sandburg
she earned three varsity letters in volleyball and four varsity letters in basketball.
Under the leadership of HOF coach Joanne Mutsch, Jenny was named all-SICA-West each of her three
varsity years (defense, all-around, all-around); Star-Herald inaugural all-area team 1980, Suburban Tribune
all-stars 1979 and 1980. Along with Cheryl Breitbarth, she was co-captain her senior season on a team that
went undefeated in conference (her junior and senior years), and took third at the 1980 State Tournament in
Bloomington. She was named to the Bloomington Star-Gazette all-state team. In the summer of her senior
year, she played middle hitter for the Windy City Volleyball Club (along with Julie Maginot, another HOF
inductee) that won the 1981 National Championship in Omaha, NE.
Jenny’s high school basketball career was equally, if not more, impressive. She was a four-year starter who
earned all-SICA West accolades all four years playing under three different coaches (Karen Kots, Bev
Mickelson, Dick Conrad). Collins’s sophomore and junior seasons garnered more notoriety (and double teams)
as she was again honored with All-Area (Star-Herald, Southtown Economist, Suburban Trib).
In her senior year, as captain, Jenny helped the Eagles to an undefeated SICA West season which culminated
with a trip downstate where the Eagles lost in the first round to Marshall. It is interesting to note that Coach
Conrad knew his girls couldn’t hang with the perennial state champ Marshall Commandos unless his game
plan negated their strengths (their size coupled with their running and gunning). Conrad’s brilliant strategy was
to slow the pace, which he knew would frustrate Marshall players...and it did; so much so, that the half-time
score was 4-7, and the final score was 18-30. This game still holds the state and Assembly Hall record for
fewest points in a quarter, half, and game.
Collins ended her season with 1310 career points and 1120 career rebounds, landing her on the Chicago
Tribune and Sun-Times All-Area teams. Jenny was named the Star-Herald’s 1981 Female Athlete of the Year,
Champaign News Gazette All-State team, and was named to the Street & Smith All-American team (Honorable
Mention). Sandburg retired both of her team jerseys, an unprecedented honor for girls at that time. Jenny
shared that she knows that her abilities and talents would never have come to the fore without the dedication
and tenacity of her CSHS teammates, friends, coaches, and teachers. She said, “It was through them that I
was able to achieve success both individually and as a member of each team, and for that I am grateful.”
After high school Jenny earned a volleyball scholarship to Ohio State and was selected to play in the 1982
Olympic Festival representing the North in Indianapolis. At Ohio State she was the Buckeyes’ starting MH her
first two years and MH and OP and team captain her last two. She earned scholar athlete accolades (3.0 gpa
or higher). In 1985 (non-Olympic year) she was invited to U.S. National Team try-outs in Colorado Springs.
Almost forty years later she still holds several blocking records at her alma mater. Upon graduation she had a
brief career as an advertising account rep in Burr Ridge, IL before moving back to Columbus to become the
Buckeye’s graduate assistant coach. Collins earned a BA in Journalism and a MA in Sport
Management/Administration from Ohio State.
After a two-year coaching stint at OSU, Jenny was hired as first assistant at Northwestern University (where
she met her husband, Shon Morris). After four years at NU she was named head coach at North Park
University (in Chicago) while returning to school to get her teaching credentials. She earned her secondary
English teaching credentials and had long-term subbing stints before finding her “forever career,” teaching

English and coaching VB at Loyola Academy in Wilmette. Collins-Morris coached both boys’ and girls’
volleyball for her first several years, then concentrated on the varsity girls for her last 10 years. In 2014 Loyola
Academy’s Athletic Hall of Fame honored her with the Frank Amato Coaching Excellence Award. After almost
25 years at Loyola (and over 30 years of coaching), Jenny retired from Loyola Academy.
In 2020, she and her husband moved to Volga, SD where she stays active working at a bookstore, walking
dogs, playing pickleball, reading, and reffing girls’ H.S. volleyball. She says, “My time at Sandburg helped lay
the foundation for this wonderful life that I am living. I am proud and thankful my high school achievements,
and all of the lessons participating in athletics have taught me; however, I am also eternally grateful to my mom
(Maryanne Collins) and dad (Phil Collins, R.I.P. 2013); my Grandma Mulyk (R.I.P. 2003); my brother, Phil; my
sisters Malvene and Karen, and all the friends and family who have loved and supported me throughout.
Finally, I am blessed every day when I see my husband, Shon, walking beside me on our journey through life.”