May 16, 2002

Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois Chicago Athletic Director Jim Schmidt announced this afternoon that men's basketball head coach Jimmy Collins' contract has been extended through the 2005-06 season.

"The idea of staying here, starting something from the ground level and building something special, really appeals to me," Collins said. ""I think I was sent here for a purpose and everybody has a purpose in life...and UIC is mine."

"I'm elated that the administration has decided to extend my contract."

Collins, who was introduced as the Flames' ninth head coach on March 27, 1996, has taken the program to new heights under his leadership. In his six years as coach, he has twice taken UIC to the NCAA Tournament - its first two appearances in school history - while claiming a conference regular-season title in 1998 and a league tournament title in 2002.

"I'm pleased Jimmy Collins will continue as the leader of our basketball program," UIC Athletic Director Jim Schmidt said. "Stability and continuity are very important ingredients to success, which we have experienced."

"Our vision for UIC basketball is brighter than ever with Jimmy Collins at the helm."

Last season proved to be a truly special one for Collins. He guided his team through a devastating injury to his leading scorer and rebounder, Joe Scott, early in the season, while mixing together a group of veterans and talented rookies, into a squad that would claim the school's first-ever Horizon League Tournament title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Flames finished the campaign with a 20-14 record and gave eventual Final Four representative Oklahoma all it could handle in the tournament's opening round.

Known as a great recruiter from his days as an assistant at the University of Illinois, Collins has continued his success at UIC, using the talent-rich city of Chicago and its suburbs as his squad's foundation.

His highly-touted 2000 recruiting class, which featured all-state honorees Cedrick Banks and Martell Bailey from Westinghouse High School and All-Chicago Public Leaguers Aaron Carr (Lincoln Park) and Armond Williams (Austin), has paid dividends as all four were key pieces in the Flames' 2002 NCAA Tournament team.

Banks earned All-Horizon League Second Team honors and joined Bailey on the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Both truly showed their moxie in the Flames' thrilling 76-75 overtime victory over Loyola in the Horizon League Tournament title game as Bailey scored six points in the extra session before Banks, who was named tournament MVP, sent UIC to the NCAA Tournament with a game-winning baseline jumper with :04 left.

Besides the Flames on-court achievements, Coach Collins took great pride in his team's academic success last season as well with Thor Solverson earning a spot on the Verizon All-Academic Region V Team. The UIC men's basketball team also watched all six of its seniors graduate in 2002.

This past offseason, Collins continued his recruiting success, signing the top post player in the state of Illinois, Farragut's Elliott Poole.