Collins out as UNLV coach

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 | 10:01 a.m.

UNLV volleyball coach Deitre Collins resigned Tuesday, in a decision that she said was a "mutual agreement" by both her and the athletic department.

Collins wrapped up her eighth season as UNLV head coach Friday, after defeating Weber State at Cox Pavilion. The Rebels had a 13-17 record in 2003, but were swept out of 11 of those 17 losses. Rebel volleyball had a 16-game losing streak as conference play opened up.

Collins compiled a 89-136 record as UNLV's coach. When she was hired in 1996, UNLV hadn't fielded a volleyball team in 11 seasons.

But Tuesday evening, Collins said it was time to move on.

"I taught the girls well, but sometimes it doesn't work out as well as planned," Collins said. "After a few years, I didn't want to use excuses."

Senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie said Tuesday that it was time to move the program in a different direction.

"It was a mutual thing, she effectively resigned, and we'll go out and find a new volleyball coach and move in a different direction," Koloskie said. "Deitre did a great job over last eight years, in her mind probably felt it was time to move on, and I think in interests of our program it was time to go in different direction."

Rebel setter Nicki King found out Tuesday afternoon that Collins had resigned.

"I don't think I had any notion of her leaving," King said. "We all loved her -- she's a great coach."

UNLV's best year under Collins was in 1998, when she was named one of the Western Athletic Conference's coaches of the year, after putting together a 23-8 record.

But she was best known for her outstanding relationship with her players, who last season, went so far as to get Collins on the Oprah Winfrey Show as a guest. Collins was a huge Oprah fan.

She said Tuesday the most difficult part of resigning was telling her players of her decision.

"That's been the stress of my day," she said. "That's the very hard part of all this, feeling like I let them down. A lot of kids came because of me."

She said that she plans on continuing coaching at some point in the future.

"I enjoy coaching, I can't imagine doing anything else," Collins said. "We'll see what comes around, I have no set plans. I'll just want and see what's in store."

Koloskie said that a search for a new volleyball coach should begin soon. He said no decisions had been made as to who will head the search committee.