Ex-Montague state champion coach, now with West Ottawa, visits 1st & Ten show

It’s playoff time in Michigan high school football, and few coaches in West Michigan have enjoyed more success this time of year than Pat Collins.

Why not have him on the West Michigan 1st & Ten show to impart his wisdom during the playoffs?

The ex-Montague coach, who guided the Wildcats to three Division 6 state championships (2008, 2009, 2020), and current West Ottawa sideline boss joined hosts Jon Russell and Cal VanSingel of the Greater Muskegon Sports Network and CatchMark SportsNet’s Scott DeCamp on Tuesday night’s show.

Collins was 0-9 in his first season with the Panthers, but he knew it would be a rebuild when he took over the job in West Ottawa, which competes in the always tough OK Red Conference.

Collins knows what success looks like.

In 17 seasons at Montague, he amassed a 159-45 overall record. Under the 1993 Montague alumnus’ watch, the Wildcats qualified for the playoffs 16 times with 12 district titles, seven regional crowns, six West Michigan Conference championships and four state finals appearances. He was named Detroit Lions High School Coach of the Week during Week 1 of the 2019 season.

Watch the video above to see Collins & Co. break down the playoff scene as eight teams from the Muskegon area will be playing in district finals games this weekend. Collins also discusses the exciting things going on at West Ottawa, as well as his many memories of coaching at Montague.