Friends of Basketball

Eddie Collins

Year Inducted: 2002

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: Angel Guardian Orphanage/various graded schools
(Chicago) St. Patrick High School
DePaul University
(LaGrange) Nazareth Academy

Biography:

Eddie Collins has a wealth of Illinois basketball knowledge.  His stories are part of the fabric of our state’s rich history. 

Eddie has a long career of assisting coaches and players in the Chicago area.  Beginning in 1966 through 1972, Eddie ran the programs at Angel Guardian Orphanage.  He coached the 8^th grade team as well as Sophomore and Varsity teams at Angel Guardian. 

From 1974-84 he continued to run the Angel Guardian gym usage.  This included hosting the Chicago Bulls and their NBA opponents for practice sessions.  They hosted practices for the Chicago Sting (soccer) and the Chicago Hustle (women’s professional basketball).  Additionally, St. Scholastica HS, St. Margaret Mary GS and St. Timothy GS competed in basketball and volleyball at Angel Guardian. 

Eddie and Bill Gleason began boys’ basketball camps at Angel Guardian —the first in the city.  At nights he ran sophomore leagues for the boys—originally the only league of its kind. 

From 1976-97 Eddie coached at various times at the following schools:   St. Celestines, Our Lady of Victory, St. Gregory Grammar School and Queen of All Saints.  All positions were with boys’ basketball teams. 

In the late 1990’s through the early 2000’s, among other things, Ed was an assistant coach at St. Patrick HS (with Mike Bailey), at DePaul University (with Doug Bruno) and at Nazareth Academy (with Gene Heidkamp). 

Eddie has worked as a personal trainer for girls’ athletes from 2002-2018.  The focus was on skill development for these players in preparation for their collegiate careers.