Football Bowl Subdivision  Collins returns to alma mater to
become Northern Colorado head coach  Greeley, CO (Sports
Network) - Earnest Collins, Jr. has been named the new head
football coach at Northern Colorado.  He takes over for Scott
Downing, who finished 9-47 during his five years running the
program.  Collins served the last two seasons as the head coach
at Alcorn State, where he guided the Braves to a combined 8-12
mark.  He is the first former Bears player to return as the head
mentor and is the school's single-season record holder in punt
return yardage and is second all- time in career punt return
yardage.  "I am very excited to reintroduce Earnest Collins to
the University of Northern Colorado football family as the new
head football coach," director of athletics Jay Hinrichs said.
"Coach Collins certainly has UNC ties. He played - holds records
- and coached as a member of past Bears teams. He knows Colorado
recruiting and believes there is a wealth of football talent in
this state. His teams hav