Tennessee State has hired Illinois State assistant Brian "Penny" Collins as its men's basketball coach.
The 34-year-old Collins was formally introduced at a Monday news conference. Collins replaces Dana Ford, who left for Missouri State after going 57-65 in four seasons.
This marks a return to Tennessee State for Collins, who worked on the Tigers' staff as a graduate assistant in 2007-08 and a director of operations in 2009-12.
Collins has head coaching experience, working from 2012-15 at Columbia State, a community college in Columbia, Tennessee. Columbia State went a combined 54-11 in his final two seasons and reached the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament each of those years.
Collins, a former Belmont guard and team captain, was an assistant at East Tennessee State from 2015-17.