According to several prominent Chicago Public League coaches, NIU is going to have a hard time recruiting basketball players from their league for the foreseeable future.

In the wake of published reports that named three out-of-state coaches as the finalists for the vacant NIU job, the public league coaches have rallied behind DePaul assistant Robert Collins. Collins was an early candidate for the post, but he was not among the three candidates being brought to NIU for interviews.

Providence assistant Larry Shyatt, USC assistant Brian Hammel and Louisiana Tech head coach Jerry Loyd are the finalists scheduled to interview this week.

“I think with the type of record Collins built at NIU and DePaul (as an assistant and top recruiter) he would be at least a finalist,” Marshall coach Luther Bedford said. Bedford is the president of the Public League Coaches’ Association.

“I think the coaches don’t think he was treated fairly. I don’t think they (NIU) deserve to get our players,” Bedford said.

Collins served as an assistant and chief recruiter at NIU for two seasons under Jim Rosborough. Prior to NIU, Collins coached at Chicago’s Calumet and Robeson High schools. Collins joined the DePaul staff in 1989 after Rosborough was fired at NIU.

Veteran Simeon head Coach Bob Hambric also feels NIU is shooting itself in the foot by overlooking Collins.

“I think you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know you have to recruit Chicago, and how are those three (the aforementioned finalists) going to do it?” Hambric said.

“Collins should be the frontrunner,” Hambric added. “He’d have a better chance of getting Chicago players.”

Calumet High School’s Johnny Butler is also behind the DePaul assistant.

“He brought in the kids that helped them get to the NCAA Tournament. I just don’t see Northern making a better selection,” Butler said.

As for the possibility that the Public League coaches will steer their players away from NIU to protest the snubbing of Collins, Bedford said “I hope that we would do that. I’d be in favor of it.”

“We’d like to have our athletes be with people we’re comfortable with,” Butler said. “I wouldn’t feel any more comfortable with anyone than coach Collins.

“If Chicago is going to be NIU’s focus in recruiting,” Butler said, “I absolutely guarantee none of (the three finalists) will do as good a job as coach Collins.”

The five NIU seniors that led the Huskies to a 25-6 record and an NCAA Tournament at-large bid this season have also voiced support for Collins. Public league products Antwon Harmon, Andrew Wells, Stacy Arrington, Donald Whiteside and Donnell Thomas signed a letter sent to The Northern Star stating: “(We) believe that Robert Collins is the best person to continue our winning tradition as coach of the Huskies … we all support his candidacy 100 percent.”

Collins declined to comment on the support being given him by the Public League coaches but did voice his appreciation of the support offered by the five NIU seniors.

“I really appreciate the support of those kids,” Collins said. “That shows their character.”

Collins recruited the five seniors when he was a member of Rosborough’s staff.

“I’m flattered that those kids highly regard me that way, but I’m not surprised with the character of those kids,” Collins said.