Saginaw Valley State University will have a new football coach in 2019 after Jim Collins announced Monday that he is leaving after 11 seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach.

Collins informed the SVSU players Monday that he has accepted a job on the football staff at Army.

“This was a difficult decision to make for me and my family, but I feel called to play a role in a program that develops the young men who will be serving our country,” Collins said in a press release. “I am extremely enthusiastic and honored to have been offered the opportunity to join the football staff at Army West Point.”

Collins took over in 2008 and coached 11 seasons, tying George Ihler for the longest tenure of an SVSU football coach. He was 65-56 overall, 58-49 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Collins led SVSU to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances - in 2009, 2011 and 2013. SVSU won three consecutive GLIAC North titles from 2011-2013.

In his 11 seasons, Collins coached 57 players who earned first or second team all-GLIAC honors. Six players were named Division II all-Americans during Collins' time at SVSU.

Defensive coordinator Adam Gonzaga, an Azusa Pacific graduate, was named the interim head coach. Gonzaga is in his fifth season at SVSU, having previously coached at Ohio Northern, Bowling Green, Northwood, Texas-El Paso, Navy, Greenville College (Ill.), Connecticut, Lafayette, Montana State, Pacific and Stanford.