Women's Basketball
Jory Collins
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Jory.Collins@ndsu.edu
2026 Summit League Regular Season Champions
2026 Summit League Coach of the Year
2026 Kay Yow National Coach of the Year
Jory Collins was named the head coach of the North Dakota State women's basketball program on April 29, 2019 and is the 11th head coach of the Bison.
Over seven seasons at NDSU, Collins has assembled a 127-87 overall record. His 127 wins rank as the second-most in Bison history and most in the NDSU Division I era. Collins helped guide the Bison to their first-ever Summit League regular season title in 2026 along with the only appearances in the Summit League Tournament championship game (2024, 2026) in program history. The Holton, Kansas native led the Bison to their first-ever No. 1 ranking in the Mid-Major Top 25 Poll in 2026 along with receiving votes in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and WBCA Top 25 Poll.
The Bison have also had extended postseason runs each of the last four seasons. NDSU made its debut in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) for the first time in program history in 2026 as a top seed and advanced to the second round. The Bison made three straight appearances in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) from 2023-25, including advancing to the 2025 Great 8 round against Troy.
Collins has continued to elevate the standard each season after guiding the Bison to a 29-5 (15-1 Summit) overall record in the 2025-26 season, which marked the most wins in the NDSU Division I era and most since the 1995-96 season. NDSU picked up a program record 15 Summit League wins and notched a 12-0 record in true road games for the first time since the 1996-97 season. NDSU joined UConn as the only two schools in the country with at least 12 road wins and zero losses. The season was highlighted by the longest win streak in Summit League history after the Bison won 23 straight games.
The Bison closed out the 2025-26 season ranking in the top 25 nationally in free throws made per game (6th, 16.9), field goal percentage (8th, 47.8), winning percentage (8th, 85.3), scoring margin (9th, 18.6), turnovers per game (9th, 11.7), free throw attempts per game (12th, 22.1), scoring offense (20th, 78.4), and three-point percentage (21st, 35.5). Additionally, NDSU led the Summit League with an 18.6 scoring margin, which was the highest mark in the Bison Division I era.
NDSU earned several postseason awards in 2026 with Collins being the first coach in program history to be named the Summit League Coach of the Year. He was also tabbed the 2026 Kay Yow National Coach of the Year for the first time in NDSU history, which is presented annually to the top head coach in women's division I college basketball, who embodies a winning spirit while displaying great character, on and off the court.
Collins assisted in the development of Avery Koenen after she became the first Bison player in the NDSU Division I era earn AP All-America Honorable Mention accolades in 2026 along with being selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team. Koenen was also tabbed the Summit League Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Summit League First Team and All-Defensive Team.
NDSU had three additional players earn postseason awards in the 2025-26 season after Karrington Asp was named the Summit League Sixth Woman of the Year, Freshman of the Year and to the Summit League All-Freshman Team. Asp became the first player in Summit League history to be named both the Freshman of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year in the same season. Marisa Frost and Jocelyn Schiller also each earned a spot on the All-Summit League Second Team.
In 2023-24, Collins guided the Bison to another 20-win season with a 22-12 (13-3 Summit) overall record. NDSU put together a 13-1 mark at Scheels Center, which was the most home wins since the 2004-05 season. The Bison went on to win their first WNIT game in program history over Montana and advanced to the WNIT Super 16 round against Minnesota.
The Bison completed the 2023-24 season ranking in the top 30 nationally in three-point percentage (13th, 36.8), free throw percentage (21st, 15.03) and scoring offense (29th, 75.4). NDSU also boasted three All-Summit League performers after Elle Evans was named to the First Team and Defensive Team. Heaven Hamling was also selected to the Second Team, while Abby Krzewinski grabbed a spot on the All-Freshman Team.
In 2022-23, Collins helped the Bison 18-12 overall record and advanced to the WNIT for the first time in program history. NDSU also assembled a 12-6 mark in Summit League play and finished the season in second place in the conference. Heaven Hamling and Elle Evans highlighted the 2022-23 season earning All-Summit League honors. Evans became the first player in program history to be named Summit League Freshman of the Year, while also earning All-Defensive Team, All-Newcomer Team and picking up Honorable Mention All-Summit League honors. Heaven Hamling became the first NDSU player since 2016 to be named to the All-Summit League First Team.
Collins guided the Bison to the semifinals in the Summit League Tournament with a 15-9 (9-7 Summit) overall record in 2020-21. Heaven Hamling led the group after being named the Summit League Newcomer of the Year, while also grabbing a spot on the All-Summit League Second Team and Summit League All-Newcomer Team. Emily Dietz and Ryan Cobbins picked up All-Summit League Honorable Mention, while Reneya Hopkins was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
During his first year at the helm, the Bison posted an 11-19 (7-9 Summit) overall record. Collins earned his first career win after NDSU topped New Hampshire, 67-61, on Dec. 1. It also marked his 200th career victory. Michelle Gaislerova was named to the All-Summit League Honorable Mention Team, while Ryan Cobbins was named to the All-Summit League Newcomer Team.
Prior to coming to NDSU, Collins spent the 2018-19 season at the University of Kansas as an assistant coach. Collins was the head coach for eight seasons at NCAA Division II Emporia State prior to his year at Kansas. During his time at Kansas, Collins primarily worked with the post players. He helped recruit the No. 2 class in the Big 12 after the early signing period in November.
Collins spent 12 years at Emporia State, including the last eight as the head coach. He compiled a record of 199-56 with five straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament titles (2013-17) and six straight trips to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 (2012-17). In 2017, Emporia State finished the season ranked first in the NCAA Central Region for the third time in four years.
His 2015 team won the NCAA Division II Central Region championship, advancing to the Final Four with a 29-5 record. Collins has a 33-9 career postseason record in the MIAA and NCAA tournaments, while compiling a 15-8 overall record against teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
Collins was named the KBCA Women's Basketball Four-Year Coach of the Year in 2015, while being named the NCAA Division II Region 7 Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year in 2014. The Hornets finished with 20 or more wins in seven of his eight seasons as a head coach.
Off the floor, the Hornets finished with the top GPA (3.72) in NCAA Division II in 2017. The 2018 squad finished fourth in the nation with a 3.71 GPA.
Prior to being the head coach at Emporia State, Collins spent four years as an assistant for the Hornets. Emporia State won back-to-back MIAA championships in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, the Hornets won the NCAA Division II national championship with a 30-5 record. Collins served as the primary recruiter that identified, evaluated, recruited and signed the class that won the national championship.
Collins earned a bachelor's degree in education from Emporia State in 2002 and a master's degree in science in school leadership from Emporia State in 2006. Collins, and his wife, Casey, have two sons, Jett and Jude.
The Collins File
Years: 16th season in 2026-27
Hometown: Holton, Kan.
High School: Holton High School
Spouse: Casey
Children: Two sons, Jett and Jude
Alma Mater: Emporia State, 2002
Record at Emporia State: 199-58 (8 Seasons)
Record at NDSU: 127-87 (7 Seasons)
Charting Collins Coaching Path
| Years | School | Position |
| 2000-03 | Emporia State | Student Assistant |
| 2004-06 | Emporia State | Graduate Assisant |
| 2006-07 | Emporia State | Volunteer Assistant |
| 2007-10 | Emporia State | Assistant |
| 2010-18 | Emporia State | Head Coach |
| 2018-19 | Kansas | Assistant |
| 2019-Current | North Dakota State | Head Coach |
Collins Year-By-Year
| Season | School | Overall | Conference | Conf. Tournament | Postseason |
| 2010-11 | Emporia State | 20-9 | 15-7 (T3rd) | MIAA Finals | -- |
| 2011-12 | Emporia State | 23-9 | 14-6 (3rd) | MIAA Finals | NCAA DII Sweet 16 |
| 2012-13 | Emporia State | 23-9 | 13-5 (4th) | MIAA Champion | NCAA DII Sweet 16 |
| 2013-14 | Emporia State | 30-4 | 16-3 (T2nd) | MIAA Champion | NCAA DII Sweet 16 |
| 2014-15 | Emporia State | 29-5 | 15-4 (T2nd) | MIAA Champion | NCAA DII Final Four |
| 2015-16 | Emporia State | 28-6 | 17-5 (4th) | MIAA Champion | NCAA DII Sweet 16 |
| 2016-17 | Emporia State | 29-5 | 15-4 (T2nd) | MIAA Champion | NCAA DII Sweet 16 |
| 2017-18 | Emporia State | 17-11 | 11-8 (T6th) | MIAA Quarterfinals | -- |
| 2019-20 | North Dakota State | 11-19 | 7-9 (6th) | SL Semifinals | -- |
| 2020-21 | North Dakota State | 15-9 | 9-7 (3rd) | SL Semifinals | -- |
| 2021-22 | North Dakota State | 11-18 | 7-11 (6th) | SL Quarterfinals | -- |
| 2022-23 | North Dakota State | 18-12 | 12-6 (2nd) | SL Quarterfinals | WNIT First Round |
| 2023-24 | North Dakota State | 22-12 | 13-3 (2nd) | SL Championship | WNIT Super 16 |
| 2024-25 | North Dakota State | 21-12 | 11-5 (3rd) | SL Quarterfinals | WNIT Great 8 |
| 2025-26 | North Dakota State | 29-5 | 15-1 (1st) | SL Championship | WBIT Second Round |
| Total | 15 Seasons | 326-145 | 190-84 |
NDSU Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - March 22, 2026
Sunday, March 22
NDSU Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - March 19, 2026
Friday, March 20
The Bison Basketball Show - March 11, 2026
Thursday, March 12
The Bison Basketball Show - March 4, 2026
Thursday, March 05
