(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - June 6, 2012) - - - Columbia State Community College will tip off the 2012 basketball season with new interim head coaches for both the men's and women's teams.
Brian Collins has arrived on campus as the men's interim head coach from Cumberland University in Lebanon where he was an assistant coach since 2009. Collins, a 2006 graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, was a 6th round draft into the National Basketball Developmental League, playing the 2006-2007 season for the Kouvot Bears, Finland's team. As a college player for the Bruins, Collins scored over 1,000 points and left Belmont as the all-time leader in assists and steals during the Division I era and served as team captain for both his junior and senior years.
After a year of professional basketball in Finland, Collins returned to the U.S. to earn his Master of Education from Tennessee State University, graduating in 2009. During his graduate school years, Collins served as the graduate assistant/director of basketball operations for the TSU Tigers.
"I'm really excited about what the Chargers will be doing in the 2012 season," Collins said. "The team had a great season last year to build on."
"I also think that you'll begin to notice a change in the players off the courts. One of the things we'll be working hard on is to make sure that we are as competitive in the classroom as we are on the court," Collins continued. "Players will be noticed on campus for their academic achievement as well as their shooting stats."
Bridget Goodnight comes to the women's team as interim head coach from Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Fla., where she was the assistant women's coach. The Gulf Coast team was the Panhandle Conference Co-Champions in 2012.
Goodnight earned her Associate of Arts and Science from Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss. in 1994 and completed her Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Miss. in 1996. Her Master of Education/Health/Physical Education was earned in 2002 from Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.
Goodnight played for Northwest and Blue Mountain Colleges. While at Blue Mountain, she was a nationally ranked shooter in both 3-point and free throw shooting percentages. While at Blue Mountain, Goodnight also was on the tennis team. While in Graduate School, she was a graduate assistant for the women's basketball team, which won the Gulf South Conference Championship.
Goodnight has been coaching at the high school and college levels since earning her master's degree.
"I am excited about the opportunity to join the Columbia State Chargers as interim coach this August," Goodnight said.
"We will be a competitive team this year," she continued. "I think people will be impressed with how this team is going to carry itself both on and off the floor. Earning that associate degree is our primary goal for every team member and my hope is that players will continue their educations in a four year school as I did."
"The announcement that Coach Collins and Coach Goodnight are coming to our basketball programs for the fall is just great for Columbia State. They follow a really talented coaching staff who developed a successful program," said Louis Conner, Columbia State's athletic director. "I would encourage everyone to plan to be in the Webster Athletic Center this year to watch some really great basketball."
Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.
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