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.
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 | April 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
