When Tom Collen answered the call to return to the University of Arkansas, he expected a challenge.
The seventh head coach in Razorback history, Collen served as the first assistant head coach during the mid-1990s. His recruiting work led to one of the greatest moments in Arkansas history – the 1998 Final Four.
His recruits were the key to a golden age of women’s basketball at Arkansas in the mid-to-late 1990s. It would be the same process in the 21st century, and Collen got to work immediately.
The fall signees for the Class of 2008 put the Razorbacks among the top 25 in recruiting.
By January 2008, Collen had the current Razorbacks in The Associated Press Top 25. That made Collen only the ninth coach in women’s college basketball history to take three different programs into the AP rankings, and he had done it in only 10 seasons.
Circumstances beyond anyone’s control -- a series of injuries beginning with the torn ACL of a 2008 WNBA Draft pick -- left Arkansas with only eight scholarship players by the end of a 17-13 season.
That Arkansas broke the school record for consecutive wins early and finished out with a winning record against the injury adversity presented to the team is a credit to Collen’s coaching ability.
One of the nation’s most successful women’s basketball coaches, Collen ranks 15th in career winning percentage among active coaches, and is 17th on the all-time list. He’s one of only five active coaches to put three teams in the AP Top 25.
Collen’s road home to Arkansas started in the Blue Grass state. Settled in at Louisville and putting the Cardinals in the top 25 and the NCAA second round, Collen earned his 200th career victory that season and seemed ready to move UL into the Big East elite.
Then, the phone rang. It was the Hogs calling. Collen knew he was going home.
“Arkansas held some of my fondest memories both as a person and as a coach are from my time in Fayetteville,” Collen said. “I have always felt that Arkansas has the potential to excel at the national level. We proved that during my tenure here as the recruiting coordinator that resulted in an appearance at the Final Four.”
Collen served as the recruiting coordinator for four seasons at Arkansas from 1993 until departing to become the head coach at Colorado State in 1997.
“I know the keys to success in building this program to new heights. I know we need to keep the best players in the state, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen,” Collen said.
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