Biography

Mark Collins embarks on his second campaign on the Falcons coaching staff. He will serve in the role of Defensive Assistant. Prior to joining the NFL, Collins enjoyed a successful 11-year coaching run at the collegiate level.

Before coming to Atlanta, Collins was an assistant coach, working with the safeties for the University of Louisiana-Monroe in 2009. He coached two All-Sun Belt selections in safeties Greg James and James Truxillo. The Warhawks defense allowed an average of 236.9 passing yards a game while totaling 13 interceptions during his lone year at the Monroe, Louisiana school.

Collins served as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia in 2007. During his stay in Athens, the Bulldogs enjoyed an 11-2 season and a No. 2 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. Georgia won its last seven contests of the season, which included a 41-10 victory over Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2006, Collins served as the Linebackers Coach for Georgia Southern University and worked under then-Head Coach Brian VanGorder. Collins also worked with the special teams and was the camp and clinic director. At GSU, Collins coached AFCA first-team All-America selection John Mohring.

A graduate of East Tennessee State University, Collins joined the coaching staff of his alma mater in 1999 and served in a variety of roles, including Outside Linebackers Coach, Defensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Defensive Backs Coach. Following four seasons at ETSU, Collins was hired by the University of Michigan where he was part of two Big Ten Championships and back-to-back trips to the Rose Bowl. He worked with the team’s linebackers as well as the offensive linemen during his two seasons in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Collins’ final stop before arriving in Statesboro, Georgia was at Elon University where he served as the school’s Defensive Coordinator in 2005. He led the Phoenix defense to a number three ranking in total defense in the Southern Conference and also guided Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Chad Nkang.

Collins was a four-year starter at defensive end and outside linebacker at ETSU. He won the John Robert Bell Award, which is given to the player who displays intensity, loyalty and work ethic. He was also the team’s captain in 1997. From 1995-96, Collins was a National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame Scholar.

Collins is a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance. He is married to the former Sarah Warren of Baxley, Georgia.

Mark Collins' Coaching Background

• 2011 -- Defensive Assistant // Falcons
• 2009 -- Assistant Coach // Louisiana-Monroe
• 2007-2008 -- Graduate Assistant // University of Georgia
• 2006 -- Linebackers // Georgia Southern University
• 2005 -- Defensive Coordinator // Elon University
• 2003-2004 -- Linebackers & Offensive Line // University of Michigan
• 1999-2002 -- Assistant Coach // East Tennessee State