NDSU

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 six seasons at NDSU, Collins has assembled a 98-82 overall record. His 98 wins rank as the second-most in Bison history and most in the NDSU Division I era. Collins has helped lead the Bison to three Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) appearances, including advancing to the 2025 Great 8 round against Troy. He also guided the Bison to their first-ever appearance in the Summit League Tournament championship game in 2024. 

Collins has continued to raise the standard each season after guiding NDSU to its most wins in the Division I era and most since 2004-05 with a 22-12 (13-3 Summit) overall record in 2023-24. It also marked the most wins in conference play since joining the Summit League in 2007-08. 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. Additionally, NDSU put together a 13-1 mark at Scheels Center, which was the most home wins since 2004-05.

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 their second-straight appearance in the semifinals in the Summit League Tournament and posted a 15-9 overall record and 9-7 Summit League in 2020-21. The Bison had four players earn all-league honors in 2020-21 with Heaven Hamling leading 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. It marked the first time in program history NDSU had three all-league selections in the same year and also the first time NDSU had two players named to the all-newcomer team in the same season.

During his first year at the helm, the Bison went 11-19 overall and 7-9 in the Summit League. His first victory at NDSU came on Dec. 1, as the Bison beat New Hampshire 67-61. The win was the 200th career victory for Collins. Junior Michelle Gaislerova was named to the All-Summit League Honorable Mention Team, while freshman 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.
 

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The Collins File
Years: 15th season in 2025-26
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: 98-82 (6 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
Total	14 Seasons	297-140	175-83