STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook football head coach Chuck Priore has announced the promotion of Bryan Collins to defensive coordinator on Monday. Collins will oversee all aspects of the Seawolves' defense as he enters his third season on coach Priore's staff.
 
"I am excited about coach Collins taking over the reigns as defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. Bryan has been with us for two years, he's had a big impact on our program during those two seasons, and he brings a tremendous amount of experience from the number of years that he spent calling defenses at LIU Post," said coach Priore as he discussed the promotion of coach Collins to defensive coordinator.  
 
Collins spent his first two seasons at Stony Brook as the Seawolves' defensive line coach after joining the program ahead of the 2021 campaign.
 
"I am so appreciative of the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator here at Stony Brook. I have enjoyed my two years here getting to know the Stony Brook family. I appreciate coach Priore's confidence in me, and I am looking forward to making an impact within the football program.

I think we have an outstanding plan in place. I am two years removed from leaving a head coaching position and have had the opportunity to evaluate things and enjoy my relationships with our players here since. I want to continue to grow our relationships as a whole unit and as a Stony Brook family. It's a great moment to be involved with our football program and the future is extremely bright. We are looking forward to a big offseason ahead of our 2023 season," said coach Collins as he shared his excitement on being promoted to defensive coordinator.
 
Prior to joining the Stony Brook staff, the Long Island coaching legend served as the head coach at LIU Post for 23 seasons. Collins is the program's all-time winningest coach as he accumulated 162 wins and led LIU Post to six NCAA tournament appearances and eight Northeast 10 Conference championships during his time at the helm.
 
Collins is a seven-time Northeast 10 Coach of the Year as he claimed the honor in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2014, 2016, and 2018. He guided the program to 16 winning seasons and three undefeated campaigns in 2002, 2016, and 2018.
 
In addition to his head coaching duties at LIU Post, from 2006 until 2017, he served as the department's Director of Athletics where he helped build the Pioneers into one of the most respected and accomplished departments in Division II.
 
Collins led the football program during the department merger with LIU Brooklyn and elevation to the Division I level in 2019. In the spring of 2021, he was named one of 16 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award after leading LIU to its first two wins as an FCS program.
 
Before being named LIU Post's head coach in 1998, he served as the Pioneers' defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 1996-97. Collins also had a stint at the United States Merchant Marine Academy as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 1994-96. His coaching career first began in 1991 at LIU Post where he initially was an assistant defensive coach/defensive line until 1993.
 
A former student-athlete at St. John's University, Collins played linebacker on the Red Storm's football team and was the recipient of the Dr. Peter Vitulli Award, given to the St. John's student-athlete who demonstrated the most courage, perseverance, dedication, and spirit of self-sacrifice in seeking to attain the highest ideals of sportsmanship. Collins received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1987.
 
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