The Jimmy Collins Era ends

Jimmy Collins retires as UIC's all-time wins leader

UIC Flames head coach Jimmy Collins is calling it a career.

Just a week after associate head coach Tracy Dildy jumped ship for Chicago State, the dean of Horizon League coaches made his retirement official, leaving the only team he has served as a head coach after 14 years at the helm.

Collins racked up a record of 218 wins against 208 losses in his career with the Flames.

“It is difficult to leave UIC and the great student-athletes who are returning,” said Collins. “After much introspection, I feel it is my time to enjoy retirement and have more time with my family,” Collins said in a press release at UICFlames.com.

The Flames will begin an immediate national search for a candidate, according to UIC Athletic Director Jim Schmidt.  UIC becomes the third opening in Chicago this season, following Jerry Wainwright and Benjy Taylor’s firings at DePaul and Chicago State, respectively.  Wainwright was replaced by former Clemson coach Oliver Purnell, while Taylor was replaced by Collins’ right-hand man, Tracy Dildy.

Names that have surfaced in the extremely young process include Tracy Webster and Gene Cross, who was fired after last season at Toledo.

Golf Outing a success

Ja'Rob McCallum gets advice from his anonymous caddy

Fun times were had by all at the 2010 Milwaukee Basketball Golf Classic.

Raising money for both the Panthers men’s basketball team and other sports within the department, the Golf Classic is the biggest day of the year for the development office, gathering hundreds of donors in one place to celebrate Milwaukee Athletics.

As always, Coach Rob Jeter’s Golf Classic took place on Monday at the beautiful North Shore Country Club in Mequon, Wisconsin.  Donors had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Panther coaches, players, and administrators.

This year, donors played eighteen holes with Panther greats such as Adrian Tigert, Jason Frederick, Ronnie Jones, Tom Hecker and Justin Lettenberger.  Play on the course was sandwiched by two buffet meals in the clubhouse for all guests.

During the day, a silent auction was held to raise money for Milwaukee Athletics.  Giveaways included Brewers suites, Panther bench seats at both the Marquette and Wisconsin games, trips with the team to Portland, Indiana, and Chicago, and even a kayak, won by early 2000′s guard Jason Frederick.

Coach Jeter discussed several things during the dinner, including the team’s trip to Italy in August, the schedule (of which every golf cart got a copy), the new roster, and the Panthers’ opportunities in Horizon League play.