Ben Collins (American football)

Benny Wesley Collins (April 1, 1921 – November 20, 2014)[1][2] was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Texas Western College—now the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)—from 1957 to 1961, compiling a record of 18–29–1.

Ben Collins
Biographical details
BornApril 1, 1921
DiedNovember 20, 2014 (aged 93)
El Paso, Texas
Playing career
1940–1941West Texas State
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1946–1956Texas Western (assistant)
1957–1961Texas Western
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1959–1961Texas Western
Head coaching record
Overall18–29–1

Collins was a star halfback at West Texas State College—now West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. In 1941, he finished second in the nation in scored points with 132, behind Bill Dudley (134) of Virginia. Collins was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 185th overall pick in the 1942 NFL draft.[3]

Collins worked at Texas Western College from 1946 to 1961 and served as the school's athletic director and head football coach during his final five years.[4] Collins is known for hiring renowned college basketball coach Don Haskins in 1961.[5] In an article for the El Paso Times, Haskins is quoted saying, "[Collins] was behind me all the way."[6]

Collins, 93, and his wife, Mary Gene, 86, were killed November 20, 2014, when they were struck by a pickup truck while crossing a busy street in El Paso.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Texas Western Miners (Border Conference) (1957–1961)
1957 Texas Western 6–33–2T–3rd
1958 Texas Western 2–71–4T–5th
1959 Texas Western 3–72–35th
1960 Texas Western 4–5–12–34th
1961 Texas Western 3–71–34th
Texas Western: 18–29–19–15
Total:18–29–1

References
  1. BEN and Gene COLLINS
  2. Benny Wesley & Mary Gene Collins
  3. "Detroit Lions Draft History, 1940-1949". Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  4. "University of Texas at El Paso Official Athletic Site - Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  5. "Player Bio: Don Haskins".
  6. "Knight, B. (2008, September 7). Bear on the border: 25 years with Don Haskins. El Paso Times". Archived from the original on January 2, 2014.
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