Danny Collins, Safeties - Minnesota

Inside the Headset with the AFCA

On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset presented by CoachComm, Danny Collins, the Safeties coach for Minnesota, shares how he got started as an equipment manager, the value he places on working hard in everything he does, and why his experience in the AFCA 35 Under 35 was so valuable. A 2023 AFCA 35 Under 35 participant, Coach Collins and the Golden Gophers are fresh off a 12-10 win over Big Ten foe, Iowa.

Follow Coach Collins and Minnesota Football on social media here:

@Coach_DCollins & @GopherFootball

Show Notes:

1:00 Introduction

1:58 Navigating the coaching profession with a significant other

3:48 When did you know you wanted to be a football coach?

5:09 Getting involved with College Football as an undergrad student

8:33 Experience as a student assistant coaching defense with an offensive background

10:16 Maintaining a Work-Life Balance as an undergrad student assistant

12:39 Takeaways from GA experience at Western Michigan

14:13 Informal interviews while working as a GA or Quality Control coach

16:24 Transition to Minnesota

20:07 Experience serving as a QC and a GA in the first few years at Minnesota

23:23 Experience not getting full-time job after serving in an interim role multiple times

26:30 Getting your first full-time coaching gig

29:13 Challenges in the first year as a full-time position coach

34:00 Advice to young coaches to prepare them for recruiting

36:35 AFCA 35 Under 35 experience

38:44 Conclusion