Earnest Collins Jr. finalizes University of Northern Colorado football coaching staff

While the University is still ironing out all the details of the contract for Collins, his base salary will be $95,000, pending UNC Board of Trustees approval. The $95,000 was the same amount that former UNC head coach Scott Downing was making before he was fired. Collins had a yearly salary of $140,000 at Alcorn State University.

University of Northern Colorado football coach Earnest Collins Jr. has completed his coaching staff with an offensive and defensive coordinator and the retention of two coaches from the previous staff, the university announced Wednesday.

Offensive coordinator Michael Armour and defensive coordinator Zach Shay come to the Bears from Alcorn State, where they worked under Collins, the Braves’ former head coach.

Collins also retained longtime UNC assistant coach Keith Grable, who will stay on as recruiting coordinator, and will move from running backs coach to wide receivers coach.

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Alcorn's Defensive Coordinator lands at Northern Colorado

Zach Shay was one of the over 30 applicants who recently applied for the Galesburg High School (Illinois) football coaching job. He didn’t even get an interview. Shay, who has served on the defensive staff at Alcorn State University for the past three years, will assume a similar position with the University of North Colorado starting today.

Alcorn State’s head coach Earnest Collins Jr. was hired as the new head coach at UNC last week and Shay will accompany him to the Division IAA school located in Greeley, Colo., about 45 miles north of Denver.

“It’s just a better situation, better facilities and they play in the IAA playoffs which is a better opportunity if they win,” said Shay. “I’m very excited. It’s a great opportunity.”

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