Tom Collen Named Women's Basketball Coach
March 11, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 11, 2003
Louisville, Ky. - Tom Collen, who won nearly 80 percent of his games in five seasons as head coach at Colorado State, has been named as the women's basketball coach at the University of Louisville.
"I'm elated that we have the opportunity to hire Tom," said Director of Athletics Tom Jurich, who is reunited with Collen after hiring him at Colorado State in 1997. "He will never be outworked, is a fantastic recruiter and a great bench coach. I want to make women's basketball a top priority at U of L. By hiring a man who is so well respected around the country, I know our community will get behind this program."
Collen returns to coaching after a year hiatus, serving as a coaching consultant, coaching clinician and television color commentator this past season.
While at Colorado State, Collen compiled an impressive 129-33 (.796) record in his five seasons with the Rams. Collen served as the head coach of the Rams from 1997-2002. His 1998-99 squad finished with a 33-3 record and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
In his five seasons at CSU, the Rams made five postseason appearances, four NCAA Tournament appearances and his 1999-2000 squad advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT. The Rams were WAC regular season champions in 1998 and 1999. In 2001, they were crowned Mountain West Tournament Champions and were 2002 Mountain West Champions of the regular season.
Collen was named WAC Coach of the Year in 1999 as well as WBCA District Coach of the Year, Women's Basketball Journal National Coach of the Year, and Women's Basketball News Service Coach of the Year. He earned Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2002.
Collen's winning percentage ranks fourth in the nation behind Leon Barmore, Pat Summit and Geno Auriemma. His winning percentage is tops among coaches with 5-10 years experience.
Prior to his stint at Colorado State, Collen served as assistant head coach at the University of Arkansas from 1995-97 after two years as an assistant coach (1993-95). He served as the recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator and produced two Top 10 recruiting classes while at Arkansas.
From 1986-93, Collen served as the assistant women's basketball coach at Purdue University. During his seven years at Purdue, the Boilermakers compiled a 151-53 record. He served as the recruiting and defensive coordinator during his tenure. In 1999, his recruiting class was ranked as the best in the nation. From 1991-1993 his recruiting classes were consistently ranked in the Top 10.
Collen also served as the recruiting coordinator for Utah from 1984-86. He received his start in coaching at the University of Miami (Ohio) where he was an assistant from 1981-83.
Collen earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Bowling Green State in 1977. He earned a master's in recreation education and in health education from Miami of Ohio in 1983.
