Lycoming College Women's Cross Country

Collins helped the women's squad to the third-best finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in program history, guiding it to a 42nd-place finish, while the men's program had three runners break the 30-minute mark during the season. The program enjoyed continued success in the classroom, as a record eight men earned MAC Academic Honor Roll honors while the women tied their record with nine selections. Both teams also earned All-Academic Team honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the third straight year. Collins led the men's team to a ninth-place finish at the MAC Championships in 2014, the program's highest finish since 2007, as three runners crossed the 30-minute mark at the race. The women's team also enjoyed a standout season, as a program-record nine runners earned MAC Academic Honor Roll accolades. In her second year, both teams continued to grow, with 27 runners competing throughout the season and 21 of those runners established new career-highs.  In her first year as coach, Collins completely overhauled the program, as she increased the program's roster by 67 percent. She led the women's team to its best finish at the MAC Championships since 2006, leading the team to a 10th-place finish. Along the way, she helped senior Michelle Herman enjoy one of the finest seasons in program history, as she recorded a 17th-place finish at the MAC Championships and four top-20 finishes. On the men's side, she helped 13 of the team's 16 runners to career-best times. Collins also served as a part-time instructor in the Mathematical Sciences Department while also coaching the cross country team for three years after retiring from the role of assistant dean for freshmen, which she held for 13 years. She began her career at Lycoming as a mathematics professor.   An active runner for 30 years, Collins has competed at every distance from 5K road races to marathons. Collins typically runs several 5- and 10K races every year and usually adds in one or two half marathons each year. She has also competed in several marathons, including the New York, Boston and Philadelphia marathons.   She joined an interesting tradition at the school, as the cross country program has a history of coaches who have held faculty positions at the College. Dr. John Piper, who served as the schools provost and dean of the College from 1992-07, founded the cross country program while a history professor in 1982 and coached the team for its first five years.   Collins earned a masters of science in education from Bucknell University and a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and psychology from Rosemont College. She resides in Loyalsock Township with her husband, Len. They have three grown children, Lara, Beth and Alex, and six grandchildren, Lucy, Julia, Anna, Theo, Jane and Oliver. Lucy and Anna have already started to run competitively and Julia and Theo have run in Williamsport childrens races.  

Collins helped the women's squad to the third-best finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in program history, guiding it to a 42nd-place finish, while the men's program had three runners break the 30-minute mark during the season.  Collins brings with him more than 35 years of running experience, doing races at all distances between 5K and marathon. He has completed the New York City Marathon twice, as well as running the Philadelphia, Marine Corps and Harrisburg marathons.   Collins also has experience as a soccer coach, coaching at the club level for more than a decade and also having served as an assistant girls soccer coach at St. John Neumann Regional Academy.   A graduate of St. Josephs University and the Temple University School of Medicine, Collins worked for 34 years with Susquehanna Health as an obstetrician and gynecologist before recently retiring.   Collins resides in Loyalsock Township with wife, Regina. They have three grown children, Lara, Beth and Alex, and six grandchildren, Lucy, Julia, Anna, Theo, Jane and Oliver.