Geoff Collins Bio: Wife, Salary & Career

This article was last updated by on

If you closely follow American college football, you must have heard about Geoff Collins. Geoff has been the head coach of the Georgia Tech football team since 2019. 

The former college player himself, Collins never made a professional league debut. Instead, after his graduation in 1992, he started working as a student assistant for the Western Carolina Catamounts, the same football team he played for during college.

Following that, he has served as a coach for different popular college teams such as Florida Gators, Temple Owls, Albright, etc., among many others.

Geoff Collins
Geoff Collins (Source: From The Rumble Seat)

It has already been over two decades since he started his coaching career. However, Collins has never led any team to win a significant collegiate championship.

Perhaps, his most tremendous success to date is producing some world-class athletes who made it into the NFL, including Keanu Neal and Vernon Hargreaves.

Today, let’s look closely into Geoff Collin’s life and career in the article below. But before we proceed further, here are some quick facts.

Geoff Collins | Quick Facts

Full Name William Geoffrey Collins
Known as Geoff Collins
Birth Date April 10, 1971
Birth Place Decatur, Georgia, United States
Nickname Not available
Religion Christianity
Nationality American
Education Rockdale County High School (Conyers, Georgia)

Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, North Carolina)

Zodiac Sign Aries
Father’s Name Billy Collins
Mother’s Name  Barbara Collins
Siblings Unknown
Age 53 Years Old
Height 1.82 m/6 feet/182 cm
Weight Not available
Build Athletic
Eye color Blue
Profession College Football Coach
Active years 1993-Present
Team Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2019-Present)
Marital Status Married
Spouse’s Name Jennifer Haynes
Children One (Astrid Collins)
Salary $3 Million
Net Worth  $1 – $5 Million
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Last Update October 2024

Geoff Collins | Early Life, Family & Education

William Geoffrey Collins, popularly known as Geoff Collins, was born on April 10, 1971, in Decatur, Georgia, United States. Soon after, his family relocated to Conyers, Georgia, where he was raised by his parents, Billy Collins and Barbara Phillips.

Growing up in Rockdale county, Collins began his primary schooling at Flat Shoals Elementary School in Conyers.

After studying there for two years, he transferred to Edwards Middle School in the same locality, where his father was a physical education teacher.

Geoff’s father, Billy, was a good athlete who specialized in various sports, including football, basketball, and sprinting.

He used to participate in the AJC Peachtree Road Race regularly since the 1970s held in Atlanta, which fascinated his son as well.

Geoff Collin's parents in their youth (Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Geoff Collins’ Parents in Their Youth (Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Similarly, Billy’s brother Danny and other family members were marathon racers and enjoyed all sorts of sports.

So, as a person from a sports-loving family, it was pretty natural for Geoff to get attached to sports from a young age.

Also, Collins started participating in extracurricular activities in his school and was good at running, basketball and football.

After middle school, Geoff attended the Rockdale County High School in Conyers, where he completed his high school education.

He later enrolled in Western Carolina University in North Carolina, from where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management in 1992.

Almost all his family members, including his grandmother and mother, live in Georgia.

However, sadly, his father, Billy, passed away in 2015 at sixty-four.

Chazz Surratt is an American-born professional football player who made his NFL debut for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He currently plays as a middle linebacker for the New York Jets. Learn more about him here!

Geoff Collins | Career

Playing Career

Geoff Collins never played professional football, but his high school and college careers were remarkable. While with the Rockdale County HS football team, he received admiration from his coach and mentor, Bob Smith.

After graduation, he played college football for the Western Carolina Catamounts for four seasons. He appeared only in eight matches in his rookie season and had three total tackles.

However, his presence increased from the second season, and Collins played all the games in his last three college seasons.

Also, his stats were far better in later seasons, where he had 61, 68, and 62 total tackles, respectively.

Coaching Career

Geoff decided to abandon his playing career and instead pursued a managerial career after his graduation in 1992. Consequently, he served as a student assistant of the Catamounts in the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

In 1999, he returned to Georgia and became a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech under coach George O’Leary until 2000.

The Yellow Jackets administration then promoted him to tight ends coach for the 2001 season.

Before that, he was associated with various other institutions serving in different posts, such as linebacker coach for the Fordham Rams and defensive coordinator for the Albright College football team in Pennsylvania.

Geoff Collins with the Temple Owls (Source: Sports Illustrated)
Geoff Collins With the Temple Owls (Source: Sports Illustrated)

Following his stint with Georgia Tech, he served in different managerial posts for college teams across the country, which included Alabama Crimson Tide, UCF Knights, FIU Panthers, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Florida Gators.

Geoff had his first head coaching job for the Temple Owls at Temple University in 2016.

His first season as the Owls’ head coach was somewhat successful, as they ended the season with a 7-6 record and won the 2017 Gasparilla Bowl as well.

He has been with the Yellow Jackets since the 2019 season, but things are not going well for him as the team has not had any memorable season since he took over.

Fed up with the bad performances, he fired three assistant coaches in November 2021, making way for some changes.

While he expected a good season opener in 2022, the Yellow Jackets lost their first match against the Clemson Tigers on September 5.

Geoff Collins | Age, Weight & Height

As of 2024, Geoff Collins is 53 years old.

Regarding his body measurements, Collins stands about 1.82 meters (6 feet) tall. However, his exact body weight at present is unknown. 

Click here to learn about Derrick Brown, who has been playing in the National Football League (NFL) after the Carolina Panthers picked him as the 7th overall pick in the 2020 draft!

Geoff Collins | Net Worth & Salary

Geoff Collins’ actual net worth has not been disclosed yet. But, overviewing his earnings, various sources have estimated it to be between $1 million and $5 million.

Over the years, he has accumulated a significant amount through his salaries as a coach for various teams. In addition to his regular salary, he has also made good fortune through bonuses.

The Georgia Tech head coach earns a base salary of $3 million annually.

Geoff Collins | Wife & Children

Geoff Collins has been married to his wife, Jennifer Haynes, for a long time. He first met Jennifer when he was in his final years of college. He did not take long to ask her out, and they began dating in 1993.

Finally, after two years of knowing each other, the duo married in 1995. In 2016, after about twenty-one years of their marriage, Jennifer gave birth to their baby daughter, Astrid.

Geoff Collins with his wife and daughter (Source: Instagram)
Geoff Collins With his Wife and Daughter (Source: Instagram)

Haynes has supported him constantly and accompanied him in every city he resided in during his long coaching career.

However, the couple admits that Atlanta is their favorite city and would want to settle there permanently after Collins retires from his job. 

Both Haynes and Collins think Atlanta is ideal for raising their daughter as they can stay close to their loved ones and do their jobs without difficulties. 

Social Media Presence

Instagram: @coachcollins

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Geoff Collins (@coachcollins)

Twitter: @CoachCollins

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Did Georgia Tech fire their head coach?

No, Georgia Tech has not fired their head coach Geoff Collins yet. However, the Yellow Jackets administration is under immense pressure because of consistent bad seasons from the past few years, and if the team fails to deliver this season, they might sack him.

What position did Geoff Collins play during his playing career?

During his playing career, Geoff Collins mainly starred as a linebacker for his college and high school teams.

You may also like to learn about Hal Mumme, a former American football player and coach whose overall football career spans over five decades, from 1970 to 2021!

Yaman Bhattarai
Yaman Bhattaraihttps://playersbio.com/

Yaman Bhattarai

Yaman Bhattarai is a dedicated writer with a keen interest in exploring the multifaceted world of sports. His articles offer readers a dynamic blend of insightful analysis, captivating storytelling, and cultural commentary that enriches their understanding of the athletes, events, and trends that shape the sporting landscape.

Expertise:

History Retrospectives Sports Technology

Highlights

  • Yaman delves into the rich tapestry of sports history, uncovering iconic moments, legendary athletes, and transformative events.
  • He examines the business side of sports, exploring topics such as sponsorship deals.

Experience

With a background in writing and a passion for sports as a cultural phenomenon, Yaman approaches each article with a blend of curiosity, rigor, and creativity. He seeks to inspire, educate, and entertain readers through his exploration of the timeless themes and enduring legacies that define the world of sports.

Related articles

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share article

Latest News