NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Trevecca Nazarene University head baseball coach Chris Collins has announced his resignation to pursue another collegiate coaching opportunity.

Collins has successfully led the Trevecca program to an overall record of 81-34-1 during the last two seasons and helped continue the winning tradition of the Trojan program. Trevecca has won the TranSouth Athletic Conference championship for the last two seasons with a record of 38-9. Trevecca has advanced to the NAIA Region XI tournament in each season. Collins was rewarded with the TranSouth and Region XI Coach of the Year Awards during the 2007 season. In 2007 Trevecca's baseball program reached its highest ranking in school history at No. 4.

Click for Tennessean Article

Click for City Paper Article

In his comments about Collins's resignation, Trevecca president Dr. Dan Boone noted the successes achieved during Collins' tenure, "Two years ago Trevecca gave Chris Collins the opportunity to move from assistant coach of our baseball program to the head coach position. He provided excellent leadership for our young men and the program, producing excitement by the progress that the team accomplished under his guidance. We at Trevecca are very proud of the name that Chris is making in the baseball world and wish him well in his new position. Trevecca will continue to work to build a competitive and successful baseball program."

Trevecca's Director of Athletics Brenda Patterson said, "In my short tenure here as the director of athletics, Chris's work ethic and his commitment to excellence as Trevecca's head baseball coach has given the university a solid foundation upon which to build a great future for the program."

Patterson says the next baseball coach will have an established program to build upon: "The Trevecca baseball program has a rich tradition and 15 returning players for next season. We have already begun what will be an exhaustive search to find a strong leader to carry on that tradition and lead our young men."

Patterson has appointed current assistant coach Jonathan Burton as the interim baseball program director and says, "Jonathan has a strong relationship with our current players and incoming recruits for next season and will assist in the transition process."

Collins played two seasons at Trevecca, his freshman and senior seasons. In 2002 Collins was Trevecca's shortstop and produced one of the best offensive seasons in Trojan baseball history. He hit .412, led the TranSouth in home runs with 20, had 51 RBI, and was named All-TranSouth, Region XI First Team, and Honorable Mention All-American as a senior. Prior to coming to Trevecca, Collins played at the University of New Mexico and South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona. Collins played his freshman season with the Trojans prior to transferring to South Mountain CC.

He followed his playing career with four seasons as an assistant for Jeff Forehand at Trevecca. Trevecca posted a 168-63-1 overall record and 48-26 TranSouth record during Collins' tenure as assistant coach.

As the head coach Collins produced an overall record of 81-34-1 and was 38-9 in the TranSouth Athletic Conference.

2007 TranSouth Coach of the Year
2007 Region XI Coach of the Year

2008 - 37-16, 17-3 TranSouth Champions
2007 - 44-18, 21-6 TranSouth Champions

During his two years as head coach, Collins produced two All-Americans, one honorable mention All-American, one NAIA Scholar-Athlete, ten NAIA Region XI first team selections, one Region XI Player of the Year, three NAIA Region XI Rawlings Gold Glove award winners, one TranSouth Player of the Year, 12 TranSouth First and seven Second Team selections, four TranSouth Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners, and 11 TranSouth Scholar-Athlete Award winners.