Here's the release....
Online Release: tinyurl.com/2djtxdg5
Northwestern and Chris Collins Agree to Multi-Year Contract Extension
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach
Chris Collins, who recently guided the Wildcats to their most successful stretch in program history, has signed a multi-year contract extension through 2030, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation
Mark Jackson announced today.
"Northwestern is my family's home - I am really proud of what we have built over the last 12 years with our basketball program and couldn't be more excited to continue the journey together," said Collins. "I am grateful to President Michael Schill and
Mark Jackson for their continued belief in me. We are all aligned to work to create even more history in the future. Go 'Cats!"
Collins has led the 'Cats to the NCAA Tournament three times during his tenure in Evanston, while advancing in each tournament, including the program's first back-to-back berths in 2023 and 2024, and the first appearance overall in 2017. Under his guidance, the Wildcats finished in second place in the Big Ten Conference standings in 2023 and in third place in 2024, the first time the program earned back-to-back top three finishes in the league since 1959 and 1960. Over the past four seasons, Northwestern has won 38 Big Ten Conference games, the program's most over a four-year stretch since 1930-34 (38).
"As the second all-time winningest coach in Northwestern Men's Basketball history – and quickly closing in on the record – Chris has no doubt proven himself as one of the top coaches in the country," said Jackson. "While his on the court performance certainly warrants this extension, I'm more impressed with what Chris represents off the court, the way our student-athletes carry themselves as young men, the way they graduate from one of the top institutions in the world, and the overall culture that everyone connected to Northwestern Basketball buys into. Chris, with the help of so many, has created all of it, including an environment in Welsh-Ryan Arena that is second to none. The energy of our basketball program helps elevate all aspects of our athletic department."
Most recently in 2024-25, Collins coached the team to a 17-16 overall record despite two of the team's top three scorers - senior guard
Brooks Barnhizer (17.1 ppg) and graduate student guard
Jalen Leach (14.3 ppg) - missing 26 games due to injury. Without Barnhizer and Leach, the 'Cats won three games away from home during the last month of the season, including a postseason victory over Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament. Junior forward
Nick Martinelli posted one of the most impressive seasons in school history, becoming the fourth Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring by averaging 20.5 points per game, while setting the school's single-season scoring record with 676 total points. Martinelli, a Second Team All-Big Ten selection, concluded the season scoring 15+ points in 18 consecutive games, the longest streak by a high-major player this season.
During his tenure, Collins oversaw the reconstruction of Welsh-Ryan Arena, subsequently turning the venue into one of the most hostile in the conference. Since 2022, the 'Cats have won three home games against AP Top 10 opponents, including back-to-back triumphs over No. 1 Purdue, and five of its last seven home games against Top 25 teams. During the 2024 calendar year, Northwestern went 16-1 inside its home building. Welsh-Ryan Arena hosted five sellouts last year, with the arena being filled to 87.4% capacity for the campaign, a single-season best since the building underwent a facelift in 2018.
A native of Northbrook, Ill., Collins' 194 wins at Northwestern rank as the second-most in program history. He is the fourth-longest tenured active coach in the Big Ten. The unanimous Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2023 and Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award winner, he collected his 150th victory in 2023 at Ohio State, becoming the fastest coach in program history to reach the milestone.
Since being hired as the University's 24th head men's basketball coach on March 7, 2013, Collins has overseen three 20-win seasons, the most by any head coach in program history. He coached
Boo Buie to two All-Big Ten First Team selections and the school's career scoring record with 2,187 points. During the 2022-23 campaign, Chase Audige garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-Big Ten recognition, while assistant coach
Chris Lowery took home inaugural Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Collins also retained
Bryant McIntosh, who set a school-record with 700 career assists from 2015-18, by adding him to his on-court coaching staff in 2022. Collins has overseen multiple players earn All-Big Ten recognition, including Audige, Buie, Martinelli, McIntosh,
Brooks Barnhizer, Drew Crawford and Scottie Lindsey.
