BleedGopher
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Per Randy:
Danny Collins had the start of his football coaching career all planned out. In 2014, he graduated from Western Michigan and figured he’d land a graduate assistant job under coach P.J. Fleck.
One problem: “Wasn’t my time to be a GA yet,” Collins said.
Undaunted, Collins adjusted his plan and decided to join Fleck’s staff as a volunteer, a role that offered no paycheck. He needed a place to live and secured permission to shack up in a storage closet in the football facility. He slapped down an air mattress, found room for his clothes and immersed himself in football.
“I just said, ‘You know what? This was going to be an opportunity for me,’ ” Collins said. “I’m always going to be the last one to leave and the first one here. Simple as that.”
To make ends meet, Collins worked the midnight to 4 a.m. shift loading trucks for FedEx.
A decade later, the “Rudy”-like story continues. Collins, 33, is still coaching with Fleck and begins the latest stop on his journey. He’ll coach his first game as the Gophers defensive coordinator in the season opener on Thursday night against Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium. He replaces Corey Hetherman, who left for Miami (Fla.) in January shortly after accepting a contract extension with Minnesota.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
Danny Collins had the start of his football coaching career all planned out. In 2014, he graduated from Western Michigan and figured he’d land a graduate assistant job under coach P.J. Fleck.
One problem: “Wasn’t my time to be a GA yet,” Collins said.
Undaunted, Collins adjusted his plan and decided to join Fleck’s staff as a volunteer, a role that offered no paycheck. He needed a place to live and secured permission to shack up in a storage closet in the football facility. He slapped down an air mattress, found room for his clothes and immersed himself in football.
“I just said, ‘You know what? This was going to be an opportunity for me,’ ” Collins said. “I’m always going to be the last one to leave and the first one here. Simple as that.”
To make ends meet, Collins worked the midnight to 4 a.m. shift loading trucks for FedEx.
A decade later, the “Rudy”-like story continues. Collins, 33, is still coaching with Fleck and begins the latest stop on his journey. He’ll coach his first game as the Gophers defensive coordinator in the season opener on Thursday night against Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium. He replaces Corey Hetherman, who left for Miami (Fla.) in January shortly after accepting a contract extension with Minnesota.
From the storage shed to the sidelines, Danny Collins rises quickly in college football world
Gophers defensive coordinator Danny Collins started his career sleeping on a mattress in the storage shed. Now he's scheming to stop the Big Ten's most powerful offenses.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!