|
Collins, a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, first
made a name for himself while playing at Illinois State. While
wearing a Redbird uniform he scored in double digits in all 77 games
of his collegiate career. He still holds six of Illinois State's top
11 single-game scoring performances, and he scored a school-record
2,240 points during his three-year Illinois State playing career.
He was the first male Illinois State student-athlete to have his
number retired, and in 1993 he received the university's
Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1998 he became the first recipient of
the Missouri Valley Conference's Institutional Great Award, which
recognizes players, coaches and administrators from all sports who
were instrumental in the development of their school's athletic
program.
Outside the Illinois State arena, Collins was the first overall
NBA draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973 and went on to have
an eight-year career with the team. He was an NBA Eastern Conference
All-Star for four consecutive years, 1976-79. He became the director
of public relations and a part-time announcer for the Philadelphia
76ers following numerous knee injuries that ended his professional
career in 1981. His volunteer work includes assisting the American
Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Hoops for Homes and the Multiple
Sclerosis Society.
A national pioneer for women's athletics, Herman began her tenure
at Illinois State as the head volleyball coach. She finished her
seven-year coaching career with a 267-112 record, including a pair
of national finishes in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
for Women Tournament, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in 1977.
She also made a national impact on volleyball while serving seven
years on the NCAA Volleyball Committee and two on the NCAA
Nominating Committee.
[to top of second column in this article]
 |
 In December of 2003, Herman received the ultimate recognition for
her contribution to the volleyball community when she was inducted
in the American Volleyball Coaches Association's inaugural Hall of
Fame induction class.
Most recently, Herman completed her fourth stint as Illinois
State's interim director of athletics. Including 2004-05, when she
was brought out of retirement by the university president, Dr. Al
Bowman, to serve as the interim director of athletics, Herman
dedicated 30 years of service to the Illinois State Athletics
Department. During her time as an administrator, the Redbirds won
117 Missouri Valley Conference team titles and 16 conference
all-sports championships.
Announced by Jane Widger Fulton, assistant athletics director,
these distinguished awards will take the titles of two worthy
namesakes.
"Doug Collins is the epitome of the word student-athlete," Fulton
said. "This is evidenced by his being both an Academic All-American
as well as an Olympian.
"Linda Herman, throughout her amazing tenure at Illinois State as
both a coach and an administrator, made developing student-athletes
in the classroom and on the playing field her top priority," Fulton
said. "I feel fortunate that these two awards will be named after
these Illinois State University legends."
The male and female recipients of the Doug Collins
Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the Linda Herman Scholar-Athlete of
the Year awards will be named at the 2005 State Farm Student-Athlete
Academic Excellence Banquet, slated for Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
For more information regarding the banquet, please contact Fulton
at (309) 438-2750 or Bonnie Mohr at (309) 438-3636.
[Illinois
State University news release]
 |
