Longtime Division I Assistant Baseball Coach Matt Collins has been tapped to replace legendary Coastal Alabama North Head Coach Keith Griffin when he retires at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Collins, a 37-year-old Louisiana native, was a two-year letterman at, and later assistant head coach of, the University of Louisiana-Monroe (Warhawks).
Collins will join the Coyotes mid-season to shadow Griffin during the 2024-25 campaign, who bookended a stellar career by leading the Brewton-based North team to the NJCAA Division II National Championship in 1998 and the ACCC State Championship in 2000, and more notably winning the 2024 ACCC State Championship in his second year back with the program.
Athletics have played a significant role in Collins's life. His grandfather is in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Collins's father coached football at LSU during Nick Saban's national championship run, and his brother is a head high school baseball coach.
Success is also a part of his DNA. As a member of the LSU-Eunice Bengals, he helped the team win the 2006 NJCAA National Championship, and was named to the World Series all-tournament team. He then transferred to ULM, where he won the Sun Belt Conference Championship, starting 53 of 54 games and batting an incredible .421 in the final 21 games en route to the title.
By the time Collins takes the reins in Brewton, a multi-million-dollar capital improvement project will likely be completed, outfitting Coyotes Stadium with a new press box, concessions and restroom building, and stands for the fans.
Collins is married to his wife Ainsley, and the two have three children. The family plans on hitting the ground running in Escambia County, enjoying outdoor activities and attending area high school football games.
