Aug. 9, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State junior Trey Blue became the second Redbird basketball player to receive the Dr. James Collie Endowed Scholarship, after former Redbird Dinma Odiakosa received the honor in both 2008 and 2009.
The Collie scholarship is presented annually to a junior or senior Redbird men's basketball player.
"It is a great honor to receive a scholarship baring the name of someone like Dr. James Collie," said Blue. "Illinois State University and its basketball program have a lot of history and to be here in 2011 and receiving a scholarship in remembrance of one of our coaching legends is humbling."
In his first season at Illinois State, after transferring from Fordham, Blue played in 29 games last season with one starting assignment. He scored in double-figures, including a season-best 14 points twice.
Widely known as "Gentlemen Jim," Collie passed away May 1, 2006. He still ranks No. 2 in Illinois State men's basketball history with 209 coaching victories, while leading the Redbirds from 1958-70.
One of Collie's former assistant coaches, Dale Cruise, along with two former players, Gene Jontry and Bob Rush, were instrumental in the process of establishing the scholarship and raising the funds. The outpouring of support is a tribute to the late Redbird basketball coach, as the scholarship reached the $20,000 level to become endowed. Over 77 individuals donated to the scholarship fund, including 10 who contributed to both of the mail solicitations. The fund will remain open for future contributions until it reaches the fully-funded status of $100,000.
Collie arrived at Illinois State in 1957, after coaching stops at Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and McKendree College in Lebanon, Ill. He inherited a program that had seldom finished a season above .500 since World War II ended, but his high-speed offense generated a quick turnaround. In just his second season (1958-59), Collie led the Redbirds to a then-school-record 24 wins, an NAIA District Championship and recognition as the Illinois Coach of the Year.
As victories mounted, fan support increased, and the Redbirds moved from McCormick Gym to Horton Field House in the mid-1960s. Collie's coaching success reached new heights, as the 1966-67 team finished fourth in the NCAA College Division (now Division II) Tournament. His 1967-68 team went 25-3, ranked No. 3 in the nation, but was upset early in the NCAA Tournament. Collie was inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1976.
The Dr. James Collie Endowed Scholarship is one of 23 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. To view current student-athletes who have received endowed scholarships, click here.
For more information about establishing an endowed scholarship, please call the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund office at (309) 438-3803. To read about each current endowment in more detail, click here.
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