STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The entire Stony Brook community mourns the devastating loss of football defensive coordinator Bryan Collins.

"Our Stony Brook Athletics family is devastated by the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague Bryan Collins. He was an elite human being on every level who was truly passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people. Everyone who knew Bryan loved him, and he always returned that love right back. He was a legendary coach and administrator but his greatest legacy will always be as a kind, caring soul. My thoughts are with his wife Patti, children Tyler and Meg, and everyone who knew and loved him," said Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron. 
 
Coach Collins was much more than a football coach, he was a mentor who believed in making a difference in the lives of young people. Collins is survived by his wife Patti and two children, Tyler and Megan.

"I first and foremost send my deepest sympathy to the Collins family and to all of Bryan's former student-athletes and colleagues. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Bryan over the past couple of years. As an opposing coach, he served as a mentor, and I have learned a great deal from working with him during our time together at Stony Brook. We certainly lose a great football coach, but more importantly a great person," said head coach Chuck Priore. 
 
Collins joined the Stony Brook staff in the summer of 2021 and spent his first two seasons as the Seawolves' defensive line coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator this past January.
  
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 was 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. 

Over the course of his life, coach Collins was able to touch the lives of so many. His positive attitude and fearless leadership were infectious traits as he brought the best out of all of those he interacted with. Coach Collins' legacy will live on forever as the entire Stony Brook community honors the memory of the Long Island legend.