Duke associate head coach Chris Collins told reporters on Thursday that he has interest in head coaching vacancies at the college level, including the opening at Illinois, according to Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago. Collins added that he would need to find the right place for him after 12 years as an assistant at Duke.
Once a player at Duke before being hired by Mike Krzyzewski in 2000, Collins is the son of Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins. He also grew up not far from Illinois in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, so he's considered a strong option given his background and roots even though he's not a minority candidate.
The Fighting Illini were closely tied to VCU coach Shaka Smart before he ultimately decided to stay where he is. Smart would've been the first minority coach of either the Illinois basketball or football teams.
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