Rozner: Phillips, Collins making hoop dreams come true at NU

Jim Phillips couldn't sit still. Then again, he rarely does.

But it was a game Northwestern had to have. After losing three of four, the dream run to the NCAA Tourney might have been resting on the final moments against Michigan Wednesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

"I will say that when I left Bloomington, Indiana, after we lost at the buzzer last Saturday, I felt as confident as I've ever felt," said Phillips, the athletic director at Northwestern the last eight years. "I thought we would come back and play well this week.

"As the game approached, it was Ash Wednesday and I found myself in church. I got to the office, knowing it was the last two games at Welsh-Ryan before we gut it and renovate.

"I don't know. I just felt like we were gonna win that game somehow. Right before the game, I leaned over and told our president (Morty Schapiro) to relax and enjoy it, and see what it means to make history."

With 21 victories, 10 in the conference and an NCAA berth, it would be historical for the Cats.

"This great group of kids, theses coaches, national TV, sold out crowd … I don't know. It just all added up for me," Phillips said. "I frequently stroll the concourse and burn off some energy, but down the stretch I came back to my seat.

"I was in the stands with my family and our president and I can't tell you I thought we would make that play. But I figured at worst we go to OT and we win it there."

There would be no overtime as Nathan Taphorn threw a pass the length of the court and Dererk Pardon banked it home at the buzzer for a remarkable finish to a 67-65 victory.

"Well, if you're going to do something that's never been done before," Phillips laughed, "why not stamp it with a game like that?"

The transformation of NU hoops has not been easy. First Phillips had to fire someone he liked very much in Bill Carmody, and then he had to find someone qualified who was also committed to doing things right at a special academic institution.

On top of that, Phillips had to hope his next coach was the kind of person who would stay long term if he had the measure of success Phillips envisioned.

Enter Chris Collins, the former Glenbrook North star who attended Duke and was coaching there for 13 years when Phillips approached.

"Bill left us in a better place than when he got here," Phillips said. "Chris was the eighth of eight candidates and I knew in 15 minutes he was the right guy.

"Institutional fit, no shortcuts, sustained success and understanding of the academic piece," Phillips said. "I'm so proud of him and the way he's grown into this job the last four years."

Perhaps no part of it was more important than believing that Collins, with success, wouldn't use it as a steppingstone.

And Phillips sounds confident that will be the case.

"I believe he wants to be here and that's what he's told me," Phillips said. "He's made our program so much better and he's made it a place people want to be.

"This should be a destination job and I feel that it is a destination job. Look at our other coaches. During my time here, we haven't lost any of our successful coaches, whether in football or lacrosse or soccer or golf or fencing.

"It's the greatest sports city in the country with a top 10 academic university in a top conference in a great location. I don't know how much better it gets than that."

Phillips and football coach Pat Fitzgerald are Chicago guys who have eschewed great offers in what are considered better opportunities, but they have decided to stay home. Phillips is confident Collins will do the same.

"We have so much going for us, with a great president who supports us, great staff, great coaches and upgrades in facilities," Phillips said. "The kids are behind us and it's a great feeling right now. It's a total team effort."

For the youngest of 10 kids from a blue-collar family in Portage Park, Phillips' ascent is storybook in and of itself.

"My parents were great people who taught us that you could be anything you wanted to be," Phillips said. "They taught us work ethic and to stay true to your faith and your family and the right way to do things.

"I learned as a kid that if you do things the right way, good things will happen."

That kid is now headed to the NCAA Tournament with Northwestern for the first time in its history.

That's a pretty good thing.

brozner@dailyherald.com

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Purple pride

Northwestern closes out its regular season at home against No. 16 Purdue today. It will be the final game played in Welsh-Ryan Arena before it undergoes a $110 million renovation. NU's record under coach Chris Collins:

Year Overall Big Ten

2013-14 14-19 6-12

2014-15 15-17 6-12

2015-16 20-12 8-10

2016-17 21-9* 10-7

Total overall: 70-57 (.551)

Big Ten: 30-42 (.423)

* Final regular-season game at 3:30 p.m. today on CBS.