SMU Coach Collins Honored at CSCAA Convention

Courtesy: SMU Athletics

EVANSTON, Ill. (CSCAA/SMU) – SMU head coach Steve Collins was honored at this year’s College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) convention for his 40 years of distinguished service in college coaching.

Collins completed his 32nd year at the helm of SMU swimming and diving following the 2017-18 season, leading the Mustangs to as many consecutive trips to the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. The two-time NCAA Coach of the Year and 11-time conference Coach of the Year has led the Mustangs to 17 conference championships in the past 22 seasons. During his tenure, SMU has 15 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, nine of those in the top five.

While at SMU, the program has seen 58 individuals earn 237 All-America honors, as well as a total of 98 relay honors. The individual and relay conference championships total 349, and 32 athletes have competed in nine different Olympics.

Collins has led the Mustangs to two American championships, six C-USA championships and nine WAC championships. He led the Mustangs to their highest finish ever at the NCAA Championships in 1996, when SMU finished second in the nation and earned Collins his second NCAA National Coach of the Year award. He was also tabbed NCAA Coach of the Year in 1991.

A successful coach on the international level, Collins was appointed to the Bulgarian staff for the 2016 and 2012 Olympics, and was the head coach of the Slovakian Olympic Team at the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 summer games. Collins’ swimmers at SMU have earned medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, World University Games, Europeans, Pan American Games, Mediterranean and African Championships.

A 1977 graduate of Florida State, Collins swam free and back events for the Seminoles and captained the Florida State team his senior year.