A Personal Profile of Coach Bethany Irwin
by Emily Grove (prior to the 2002-03 season)
Irwin Beginning her 10th year as the head coach of State College's successful girls' basketball program, Bethany Irwin is confident and collected, rolling with the punches each day throws her.

Picture her entering State College High School with a mental list of errands to run before practice, opening the locker room, dragging a cart of basketballs out of a closet and diligently searching for a box of overdue uniforms on the loading dock before she even stops to take off her jacket.

"This is how my life is," she laughs, walking quickly from one hallway to the next, mentally checking items off of her list.

Irwin's basketball history began with her seventh grade team in Branford, Conn. A winning streak that lasted until a game during her sophomore year of high school, in which she played with a sprained ankle, preceded two high school state titles and a basketball scholarship at Penn State.

After graduating in 1989 with a degree in elementary education, Irwin taught elementary school and coached high school basketball for three years in Bellefonte before coming to State College.

During off-season, Irwin also coaches the ninth grade team at Mt. Nittany, helps with two summer basketball camps in State College for elementary and junior high students and still manages to attend as many of her own children's sporting events as possible.

She and husband Rob juggle the busy schedules of six children, ranging in age from five to 16, who are involved in basketball, baseball, softball, football, soccer and volleyball.

Irwin has a positive, yet realistic, outlook for this season, hoping her team will achieve their goal of advancing at least one game closer to a state title than last year. "They've experienced the excitement and have a real taste of it now," she said smiling. "I know they'll all work really hard."

Coach Bethany Irwin
Stats and Observations by Mary Jo Haverbeck

HUSKIE ROOTS: A Connecticut native, Bethany Collins won two state titles (1983, 1984) playing basketball with Branford High School. The Hornets were 71-4 during her career. She was the first player at Branford to score 1,000 points . She set the school record for points in a game (40), points in a season (549) and points in a career (1,339). Her 11 blocks in a game, 98 blocks in a season and 261 blocks in a career also were new marks at Branford. She designed the logo for the Hornets at center court. Collins was a Converse All-American and a Parade fourth team selection in 1984. She was all-state in basketball in 1983 and 1984. Branford was ranked No. 25 nationally in "USA Today's" prep poll in 1984. She also was a top recruit in volleyball with all-state honors. She's a member of the Branford and Connecticut Sports Halls of Fame.

HIGH SCHOOL COACH COMMENTS: "Though her prowess as an athlete has elevated her among her peers, it is her quiet, caring and warm concern for others that has distinguished her," Branford basketball coach Dave Maloney said.

PENN STATE CAREER: Collins narrowed her choices to Penn State after hearing from 200 colleges. During her Penn State career (1985-89) Collins scored l,186 points, collected 757 rebounds and blocked 92 shots. She still ranks among the school's top 20 in all three categories. Collins played in 122 games for the Lady Lions averaging 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.

BELLEFONTE: Irwin coached at Bellefonte High School for three seasons where her record was 34-29. She replaced Fred Bailey as the State College girls' basketball coach.

STATE COLLEGE: Irwin coached her first team at State College in 1994 after turning down an offer to be an assistant coach with the Juniata men's basketball team. "I really wanted to see if they would consider a woman," she said of the Juniata position. Nine years later she opened the 2001-02 campaign by coaching her 200th game with the Lady Little Lions, a win over Wilson in the Cumberland Valley Tournament. She has more than twice as many victories as any previous State College coach. Frank Guera, who coached from 1987 to 1990, is closest with 76 wins. Two years ago, Irwin's team won a record-setting 26 games and the school's first district six championship in girls' basketball. Her Lady Little Lions also played in two rounds of the PIAA Championship. Last season she took State College to the state semifinals and won another district six title and the Mountain High League Championship. Irwin also coaches the ninth grade girls' basketball team at Mount Nittany Middle School and supervises the seventh and eighth grade programs at Mt. Nittany as well as the seventh, eighth and ninth grade programs at Park Forest Middle School.

PERSONAL: Born May 12, 1966, Bethany grew 10 inches between fifth and ninth grades. She is the daughter of the late Warren F. Collins, who retired from the state police force as a Sergeant after 31 years. Her mother, Nancy R. Collins, is a homemaker who lives in Connecticut. She has two brothers (Warren and Darren) and a sister (Gail). Bethany and husband Rob, her assistant and the coach of State College's junior varsity team, are the parents of Patrick and Kyla. Rob teaches at Bellefonte High School.

Bethany's State College Year-By-Year Record
Record Year
11-12 1993-94
16-9 1994-95
14-9 1995-96
18-7 1996-97
18-6 1997-98
15-10 1998-99
20-6 1999-2000
26-2 2000-01
26-4 2001-02