THE COLLINS FILE

Personal Information

Full Name: Riley Patrick Collins
Born: Oct. 25, 1997, in Toms River, N.J.
Hometown: Lacey, N.J.
High School: Donovan Catholic
College: Drew, 2020

Administrative Experience

2020-22:
Marymount, graduate assistant
2022-24:
Tennessee, graduate assistant
2024-Present:
Tennessee, assistant director of player development

Now in his fourth year at the University of Tennessee, Riley Collins in his second season as the assistant director of player development. After joining the Volunteers in the summer of 2022, he was elevated to his current role in July 2024.

"From the first day he arrived at Tennessee, Riley has made his presence felt within our facility," Barnes said upon announcing Collins’ promotion. "He is a tireless worker who gives this program everything he can each day. After seeing all the ways Riley aided our program the past two years, it was clear he deserved a full-time position and I am thrilled he accepted that opportunity."

During the 2024-25 campaign, his first as a full-time staff member, Collins aided the Volunteers to one of their best seasons ever, as the team logged a 30-8 (12-6 SEC) record and reached the Elite Eight. Tennessee spent the entire year in the top 12 of the AP Poll, including earning 18 consecutive top-eight positions, five No. 1 overall rankings and placing fifth in the final release to tie the program record. Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler both tallied All-American accolades.

Collins worked as a graduate assistant for the Volunteers during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. The Volunteers won 25-plus games and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament during each of those campaigns, including winning the SEC regular season title and making the Elite Eight in 2023-24.

A native of Lacey, N.J., Collins spent two years, 2020-22, as a graduate assistant at Division III Marymount University in Arlington, Va. He assisted with skill development and a wide range of the program’s logistical operations.

Collins also has multiple years of experience as a basketball skills development specialist alongside NBA trainer Alex Bazzell. In that capacity, Collins assisted with skill development workouts for multiple NBA players and administered a pre-draft camp for Roc Nation Sports.

From 2019-22, Collins also served as boys’ basketball head coach for the Hoop Group Showcase League’s New Jersey Panthers, guiding the club to the 2020 HGSL championship.

Collins authored a stellar collegiate playing career as a guard and three-year captain at Division III Drew University in Madison, N.J., from 2016-20. A four-time first-team All-Landmark Conference honoree, Collins finished his four-year career as the Rangers’ all-time leader in points (1,973), assists and 3-pointers made. He also was a 2020 NABC Reese’s All-American.

Collins earned a business degree from Drew in 2020 and went on to receive a master’s degree in human resource management from Marymount in 2022. Off the court, Collins is proficient in digital graphic design and he has volunteered at Special Olympics basketball events for multiple years.