ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Ron Collins, 61, who served as an assistant coach with the Washington University in St. Louis football program from 1988 to 2000, passed away on Tuesday morning after battling an illness.
 
Collins, who was serving as a defensive senior analyst at Boise State at the time of his death, began his coaching career with the Bears in 1988 as a secondary coach. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in 1989, serving in that role until 2000. Additionally, Collins served two years as the special teams co-coordinator and served as the strength and conditioning coach for his entire tenure.
 
During his time at WashU, Collins contributed to the Bears' 68-33 record with three UAA titles. In 1999, WashU's defense was the top-ranked defense in the country, allowing just 192 yards of total offense per game and a school record 49.8 rushing yards per game. That same year, the Bears reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
 
Collins is survived by his wife, Sharon and two daughters, Taylor Rae and Alexandra.