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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football program is saddened to learn of the passing of former defensive coordinator Ron Collins. He was 61 years old.
 
Collins spent 10 seasons on the Ohio football coaching staff (2011-21), including three as the program's defensive coordinator/safeties coach. He was elevated to defensive coordinator on Feb. 5, 2019, after spending seven years as linebackers coach and two as co-defensive coordinator.

"Pam and I were very sad to hear of Ron's passing. His family has our thoughts and prayers," said former head coach and NFF Hall of Fame inductee Frank Solich. "In the decade he was in Athens, Ron added tremendous value to our program both on and off the field. The defense's consistently strong performance, as well as the young men who were a part of the program, spoke to the kind of coach and man he was."
 
The Bobcats boasted one of the top linebacking units in the MAC under Collins. Ohio linebackers accrued nine All-MAC honors during his tenure, including Noah Keller (2011, Second Team), Alphonso Lewis (2012, Third Team), Jovon Johnson (2014, Third Team), Quentin Poling (2015, Third Team; 2016-17, First Team), Blair Brown (2016, First Team), Chad Moore (2017, Second Team) and Evan Croutch (2018, Second Team).
 
Under Collins, safety Javon Hagan— a four-time All-MAC selection— also earned 2019 First Team All-MAC accolades following Collins' first season overseeing the safety core. 
 
In 2016, Ohio linebackers led the way again with 337 tackles and came in as the top three tacklers on the stat sheet. They also compiled 34.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Poling and Brown were named First Team All-MAC and Brown was chosen in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ohio was fifth best against the run in the country and set single-season records in tackles for loss and team sacks.

Poling would mark the second of Collins' linebackers to be drafted, going in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft to the Miami Dolphins.

Collins played collegiately for Washington State, finishing his career as a team captain in his senior year in 1987. The three-year starter at safety once had three interceptions in a game, against Stanford as a sophomore in 1984. In addition to earning his bachelor's degree from Washington State in 1987, Collins received his master's from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1991.

A native of Wenatchee, Wash., Collins graduated from Cashmere High School, where he earned a total of 10 letters in football, wrestling and track. 

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters, Taylor Rae and Alexandra.

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