NEWARK, Del. -- Byron Collins , a veteran of 17 seasons coaching men's lacrosse at the collegiate level, including 11 years as a head coach, has joined the University of Delaware staff as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.



Collins, who spent the 2014 season as an assistant at Rutgers after stops at Roanoke (Va.) College, Greensboro (N.C.) College, Stevens Tech, and Penn State, replaces Greg Carroll, who left the UD staff following the 2014 season to enter private business after a 15-year career at Delaware.



“I am excited to have Byron join the Blue Hen lacrosse program as associate head coach and offensive coordinator,” said Delaware head coach Bob Shillinglaw , who completed his 36th season as head coach at Delaware this past spring. “Byron has an outstanding background both as a head coach and as an assistant and has been successful at every program he has been associated with. He is a tireless worker and recruiter with a great work ethic. During the hiring process I was looking for someone with successful experience as a head coach and I am looking forward to working with Byron and sharing ideas on all phases of our program. I welcome him and his family to the Blue Hen lacrosse family.”



Collins graduated from Whittier (Calif.) College in 1993 with a degree in business administration. As a standout midfielder, he helped the Poets to three-straight West Coast Lacrosse League Championships. Additionally he served several national committees during his career, including the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Advisory Committee and USILA All-America Committee.



“It is a tremendous honor to be named associate head coach at the University of Delaware,” said Collins. “My family and I would like to thank Athletic Director Eric Ziady, Senior Associate Athletic Directors Tim Ford and Augie Maurelli, and Coach Shillinglaw for this opportunity. I look forward to serving the University of Delaware and the men's lacrosse program in a way that will make the Blue Hen family proud for years to come. I can't tell you how excited I am to have the chance to work alongside one of the most respected and successful coaches in the nation in Coach Shillinglaw.”



During his tenure in the collegiate ranks, Collins has posted an overall record of 120-57 as a head coach and been a part of teams that have posted a winning record 14 times in 17 seasons. During his coaching tenure, he has led eight teams to the NCAA Tournament. He also coached two years at the high school level, leading Detroit Country Day of Beverly Hills, Mich., to consecutive Division Two State Championship appearances from 2011-12, capturing the state crown in 2011.



He began his coaching career at NCAA Division III Roanoke (Va.) College where he served as an assistant for three years in 1995-97 and led the squad to a combined record of 44-10, including NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearances in 1996 and 1997 and three straight Top 10 national rankings.



Collins moved on to NCAA III Greensboro (N.C.) College in 1998 as a head coach and led that team to a 9-4 record and a No. 19 final national ranking before moving to NCAA III Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, N.J.) where he served as associate head coach in 1999 before taking over the head coach position in 2000.



He enjoyed outstanding success over a 10-year career as head coach at Stevens Tech, helping lead the Ducks to nine straight winning seasons, 108 victories, and six NCAA Tournament trips, including advancement to the tournament's second round in 2005 and 2006 and to the quarterfinals in 2004. The 2005 squad finished the season ranked No. 10 in the nation. The Ducks captured ECAC Metro Championships in two of his last three seasons (2007, 2009) leading the program.



Collins moved up to the NCAA I level in 2010 as an assistant coach at former Colonial Athletic Association member Penn State before coaching two seasons at Detroit Country Day. He then moved on to Rutgers where he helped head coach Brian Brecht's squad go 8-8 this past spring and post wins over Army, St. John's, and Georgetown. Rutgers posted its highest win total since 2004 and had the nation's 10th ranked scoring offense, averaging 12.1 goals per game.