Introductory Press Conference

READING, Pa. – With more than 25 successful years of coaching, Isaac Collins has been named head coach of Albright College's storied football program by President Jacquelyn S. Fetrow '82 and Co-Directors of Athletics Rick Ferry and Janice Luck, beating out strong pool of candidates. Collins replaces John Marzka, who leaves the turf to venture into the financial services field after 15 years as Albright College's head football coach.
 
"Athletics are an important part of the Albright community and our history," said President Fetrow. "More than a third of Albright students are student-athletes and roughly 125 of our student-athletes are football players. Our new football coach will have a significant impact on these student-athletes, on Albright athletics, and on our community of Lions."
 
"Isaac's vast and successful experience as a coach at all levels, his impressive football acumen and well-rounded approach to coaching and teaching impressed everyone involved in the search," said Ferry. "His ability to inspire and lead, with integrity, makes him the perfect person to take Albright football into the future."
 
Most recently Collins served as Bucknell University's defensive coordinator, starting for the Bison as defensive backs and special teams coach in 2019. Before joining Bucknell, Collins was the head football coach of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) rival Widener University, as well as Seton Hill University.
 
From 2010 to 2012, Collins led Widener to national prominence, posting a combined record of 25-8. In 2012, Collins went 11-1, captured a MAC title and reached the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. In 2011, Widener's explosive offense averaged a nation's best 47.1 points per game, as the team rolled to a 9-2 record, capped by an ECAC South Atlantic Bowl victory. For his role in Widener's success, Collins was recognized as the MAC Coach of the Year, D3Football.com's East Region Coach of the Year and Maxwell Touchdown Club's Tri State Coach of the Year. Under Collins's leadership, Widener rose to as high as No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the D3Football.com rankings.
 
"Albright College's four pillars — Integrity, Curiosity, Connection and Resilience — run parallel to the core values we are going to use to build our football program," said Collins, who plans to "develop principle leaders, develop physically, develop mentally and develop emotionally" in his player-centered program. "We will meet each player in our program where they are at and help develop them to get to where they need to be."
 
"I am excited to have the opportunity to raise my 9-year-old and 13-year-old on a small campus where they will get the chance to interact with some amazing students and student-athletes" added Collins. "I have spent the past 27 years connecting and serving the communities that have surrounded the colleges I coached, so I cannot wait to get our players involved with not only being active leaders and citizens on campus but sharing the gift of serving throughout the Reading community."
 
Collins earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1994 from the University of Rochester where he was a standout running back. A four-year letter winner and 1993 team captain, he rushed for at least 100 yards 14 times over the course of his career. In 1992, he helped Rochester win a University Athletic Association championship; for his efforts, he was honored as the league's Co-Offensive Player of the Year.