UIC coach Jimmy Collins leaves team

[Da Coach]

Just being reported out of Chicago, the head coach of University of Illinois-Chicago, Jimmy Collins has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team. There has been no reason announced.

UIC is playing Illinois State at 2:00pm today in the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. According to Comcast SportsNet, Collins did not accompany the team to the stadium today. UIC was 6-7 this season, so far, and lost at Bradley back on Nov. 19.

[tornado]

I think he is still shaken up a bit over that sign about
Marcus Liberty that one of the students had at the game.

[BU fan]

It's usually something serious to leave in midseason with little details.
Here is a press release-

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-061223uiccollins,1,5663946.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

[Mikovio]

ISU takes advantage of Jimmy Collins' absence and wins 77-69....

[BUBraves06]

I think he is still shaken up a bit over that sign about
Marcus Liberty that one of the students had at the game.

I'd like to apologize for having a part in Jimmy Collins' leave of absence.

Honestly though, if it is a personal thing I hope he gets it all worked out and comes back to the team.

[asurfaceofone]

Is this the same coach who stormed off the court ... ... ...

after beating us up there laughing all the way the last time we went there? We either were being coached by Molinari or Alback when we gave this game away as far as I can remember.

[patrick_o'brian]

Re: Is this the same coach who stormed off the court ... ...

after beating us up there laughing all the way the last time we went there? We either were being coached by Molinari or Alback when we gave this game away as far as I can remember.

What?

[Da Coach]

PJ Star story on ISU-UIC game and the Jimmy Collins departure--

http://pjstar.com/stories/122406/ISU_BBT7FOB7.078.shtml

[BUBraves06]

It was announced today that Collins will extend his leave indefinately.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2710499

[Big Mike]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/190795,cst-spt-uic29a.article

[Da Coach]

It is being reported that Jimmy Collins will undergo surgery tomorrow for an aortic aneurysm.
So his leave of absence did involve health reasons. We hope everything turns out OK for Jimmy.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-070103uiccoach,1,1021066.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[tornado]

Coach--that link goes to a registration page.

If you wish to sign in and see the article use the following:

e mail: dps112788@aol.com
password: bradley

But to save time, I'll summarize the article with some quotes:

"Illinois-Chicago's men's basketball coach Jimmy Collins was admitted to the hospital Wednesday after tests showed he had suffered an abdominal aortic aneurysm"

"Collins, 59, gave notice of an indefinite leave of absence late last month because of "physical and mental" exhaustion

....an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is swelling of the main blood vessel -- the aorta -- in the abdomen. The abdominal aorta carries blood from the heart to the abdomen, pelvis and legs. After an aneurysm, the blood vessel wall thins and is in danger of rupturing.

Collins was to undergo a surgical procedure to repair the aortic artery Thursday morning at the University of Illinois Medical Center"

"No time has been set for when Collins will return, Cassidy said.

"He'll be on continued leave until he completes a full recovery," Cassidy said. "He'll decide when he's fully recovered."

[Braves4Life]

Collins to return

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-070412chandler,1,2324958.story?coll=cs-college-headlines

Meanwhile, Illinois-Chicago coach Jimmy Collins has recovered from the illness that forced him from the Flames' bench at mid-season and is back at work recruiting players for the 2007-08 season.

[BUBraves06]

Jimmy is back at UIC and apparently doing much better:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-070423uic,1,2999673.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

[Da Coach]

Charlie Coley stopped at UIC for a visit after leaving Bradley. Collins must not have made a good impression, as we never heard any mention of UIC in any of the press releases.