PHILADELPHIA — With Duke assistant Chris Collins reportedly set to interview for the Northwestern job next week, Coach K said Collins will eventually be a “great” head coach.
“He’ll be great‑‑ all three of those guys would be great,” Coach K said here before the No. 2 Blue Devils meet No. 15 Albany on Friday.
Coach K was referring to his three assistants, Collins, Jeff Capel and Steve Wojciechowski.
“Well, I could lose any of my guys at any time,” Coach K said. “I feel I have the best staff in America, pro or college, because two of them have been with me for seven years in the Olympics and world championships in Wojo and Chris, and I have three head coaches on my staff in Chris, Wojo and Capel, and there’s nobody who has that.”
Collins is a Northbrook, Ill., native who told ESPNChicago.com that he ultimately aspires to be a head coach. He’s now reportedly at the top of Northwestern’s list to replace the fired Bill Carmody.
“It’s my home,” he told the site last year of the Illinois job. “It’s in the Big Ten. There’s talent in the state. Of course, you have aspirations to be a head coach in an area you really love like Chicago, so of course there’s going to be interest. I haven’t talked to them.”
Coach K said he would “go to war” with Chris, and his father, 76ers coach Doug Collins, anytime.
“I love them to death,” Coach K said. ” I’d go to war with Doug, Chris, and have with Chris. They’re just terrific people.”
