Jory Michael Collins (born October 14, 1978) is an American women's college basketball coach currently serving as the head coach for the North Dakota State program. From 2010 until 2018, Collins was the head coach at Emporia State University. Collins led the Emporia State Lady Hornets to eight consecutive winning seasons. Collins is the second winningest coach in Emporia State history with a record of .
Coaching career
In April 2010, Jory Collins was selected as the head basketball coach of the Emporia State women's basketball program following the resignation of then-head coach, Brandon Schneider, who had announced that he had accepted the position at Stephen F. Austin. Previously, Collins served as the assistant for Emporia State. Before becoming a full-time assistant for the team, he held several positions with the team including a Student Assistant and Volunteer Coach. In the 2004–05 season, he was a Graduate Assistant and in 2006, he was promoted to a full-time assistant.
Emporia State University (2010–2018) During his eight seasons at helm of the Lady Hornets program, Collins won five consecutive MIAA tournaments from 2013 to 2017 and finished with combined a record of 199–58 overall and a 123–44 record in the MIAA. He is the first coach in Emporia State history to advance to six conference tournament championships and four regional championships in five years.
2010–11 season
In his first season, Collins led the Lady Hornets to a 20–9 overall, and 15–7 conference winning season. He led them to the MIAA Tournament title game, which they lost to the Northwest Missouri Bearcats.
2011–12 season
The following season, Collins led the Lady Hornets to a 23–9 overall, and 14–6 conference winning season. With that, the Lady Hornets advanced to their second consecutive MIAA Tournament title game, in which they lost. They also advanced on to the NCAA Sweet 16 where they lost to the Pittsburg State Gorillas.
2012–13 season
In 2012–13, the Lady Hornets were preseason ranked 19 in the WBCA poll. During the 2012–13 season, Collins lead the Lady Hornets went on to an overall record of 23–9, and 13–5 conference winning season. The Lady Hornets went on to their third consecutive MIAA tournament title game, in which they won against the University of Central Missouri Jennies 67–51. This was their fifth tournament win, and first since the tournament moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 2003. They again made it to the NCAA Sweet 16, where they lost to the Augustana Vikings 75–74.
2013–14 season
In 2013–14, the Lady Hornets were preseason ranked 9 in the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 10 Rankings poll. During the 2013–14 season, Collins lead the Lady Hornets went on to an overall record of 30–4, and 16–3 conference winning season. For the fourth consecutive season, Collins coached the Lady Hornets to their fourth MIAA tournament title game, in which they won against the Central Missouri Jennies. The Lady Hornets went to the NCAA Regionals, in which they lost to the Concordia–St. Paul Golden Bears 70–67. At the end of the season in March 2014, Collins was selected as the NCAA Division II Region 7 Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year.
2014–15 season
In 2014–15, the Lady Hornets were preseason ranked 7th in the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 10 Rankings poll. During the 2014–15 season, Collins lead the Lady Hornets to an overall record of 29–5, and 15–4 conference winning season. For the fifth consecutive season, Collins coached the Lady Hornets to their fifth MIAA tournament title game, in which they won their third-straight against the Fort Hays State Tigers 49–46. The Lady Hornets went to the NCAA Regionals, in which they again beat Fort Hays State in the Finals to advance to the Elite Eight. Collins then led the team to the Final Four, where they lost to the California Vulcans. In post-season honors, Collins won the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year".