I knew Jason was “the one” when we decided to go to Pizza Hut for our first dinner and both agreed that a large pepperoni stuff crust pizza sounded good.

We first met over Facebook. We happened to be from the same area and I actually knew his sister before I knew him. I randomly decided one night to take a shot and message him on Facebook. To my surprise he messaged back and within a week we decided to meet up for dinner.

As Paula Abdul once said, “We come together because opposites attract,” which fits Jason and I perfectly. I have always been involved in sports and they have always been a big priority to me. His priorities were marching band throughout his academic career. It makes perfect sense to everyone who knows us that Jason Coe and I are getting married this December.

One of my college volleyball teammates, Michael, has become one of my best friends and jokes that he wants to officiate the wedding. This is something I never would have imagined that time on my recruiting visit to Adrian College in Michigan when I lied to Michael about having a girlfriend to avoid coming out to him as gay.

Growing up in a small rural town in southeast Michigan was one of the least ideal places to be an LGBTQ+ person. Surprisingly, my sexuality was widely accepted throughout my high school and I received an overwhelming amount of support from all of the teachers and staff. However, I did not imagine having to come out a second time when I started college.

Throughout my high school career, I was involved in three-sports — managing the women’s volleyball team and playing basketball and running track myself.

It was in August before I would start my senior year of high school that I verbally committed to play men’s volleyball at Adrian College, a small Division III school about an hour away from my hometown.

As time got closer for me to start school and become a part of a team, I had the opportunity to do an overnight visit with one of the current players.

After I hung up the phone with the coach at the time, the excitement soon left me. This would be the first time that I could be meeting some of my future teammates. I wasn’t sure how to deal with coming out another time to strangers that I would eventually spend the majority of my college career with.

Flash forward to my overnight visit. I was going through a rough breakup with my boyfriend at the time. I also wasn’t sure how my future teammates would react if they found out I was gay. Before I got there that evening, a female friend and I had this idea that I would just say she was my girlfriend if this conversation ever came up.

At the time, Michael Burkhardt was a freshman on the team. We were hanging out with some of his friends who played on the women’s team at Adrian. One of the girls asked the question that I was hoping would be avoided all night: “Alex, do you have a girlfriend?”

I know she wasn’t asking because she was interested in me (she was a 6-1 middle blocker, while I was only a 5-8 defensive specialist). Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone and showed them my pretend girlfriend. I could feel my face turn bright red and I’m surprised they didn’t question it much after that.

The next day I was so embarrassed not being comfortable enough to share who I truly was that I contacted one of the girls from the night before and came out to her. This was the start of my college coming out story. By the time I entered my freshman year, Jason and I were together for about three months and I was the most comfortable with my sexuality that I have ever been.

My volleyball teammates and coaches, past, current and present have all been greatly accepting of my relationship and of who I am. I would not want to celebrate my special day without them there.

My teammates and my coaches are truly family and I love each and every one of them.

My teammates and my coaches have been a great support system throughout my college career. We are truly family and I love each and every one of them in many different ways. I know I can go to any of my teammates or any of my coaches if I’m having a rough day, need a good laugh or just a quick pick me up.

My advice to those LGBTQ athletes who may be struggling with who they truly are: Develop a close, positive and supportive relationship with your teammates and coaches as you end up spending a lot of your time with them. They will always have your back and go to bat for you.

Alex Collins, 21, will be graduating from Adrian College in Michigan in the Spring of 2020. He is a Social Work Major with a minor in Psychology and plans on continuing his studies to receive his Masters of Social Work in the future. He is a member of the men’s volleyball team. He can be reached by email (alecolli36@gmail.com) or Twitter (SoHelpMeAlex) or Instagram (alex_collins16).

Story editor: Jim Buzinski

If you are an out LGBTQ person in sports and want to tell your story, email Jim (kandreeky@gmail.com)