Eastern Michigan Athletics
Collett Hired as Football's Director of Recruiting Operations
1/24/2019 9:18:00 PM | Football
The Paintsville, Ky,. native will oversee the day-to-day operations of the team's recruiting
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Jeff Collett, the defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator for Centre College for the past six seasons, has been named the Director of Recruiting Operations and Player Personnel for the Eastern Michigan University football program, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, Jan. 24. Collett will oversee the day-to-day operations of the program's recruiting department and other player personnel duties.
"Recruiting is the life blood of any program," Creighton said. "The game doesn't exist without players, they are at the center of everything we do. Jeff Collett is going to make us better by directing our year round recruiting efforts. He brings vision, creativity, passion, organization and professionalism. Eastern Michigan football offers an incredible experience and Jeff is going to help us tell our story."
Most recently, Collett served as the Colonels' defensive line coach after joining Centre's staff in 2013. In 2016, he added recruiting coordinator responsibilities.
Under Collett's leadership, the defensive line had tremendous success both as a group and individually. In 2018, the Colonels finished 10-2 with an appearance in the "Sweet 16" of the Division III playoffs after winning the South Athletic Association (SAA) championship with a 7-1 mark. The squad finished the year at No. 14 in the D3football.com Top 25 and No. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll.
During the 2017 campaign, Collett's D-line helped the Colonels finish second in the SAA in tackles-for-loss per game. Individually, All-SAA selection Zach Berger led Centre and was fourth in the SAA with six sacks on the season, finishing with 24 tackles and eight for loss.
In 2016, Collett helped Ben Bostick finish his career as a two-time All-SAA selection while adding a CoSIDA Academic All-District nod.
In 2014, the defensive line helped the Colonel defense lead the SAA in takeaways and fewest points allowed. The unit helped improve in national defensive rankings in 2014, moving from 106th in rush defense to 47th, only allowing 127 yards per game. Four members of the defensive line received postseason honors for their efforts in the 2014 season. Senior defensive end Devon Freeman was named the SAA Defensive Player of the Year and received First Team All-SAA honors. Along with Freeman, DT Paul Megilligan (First Team), DE Rue Hockensmith (Second Team), and DT Kris Beauchamp (Honorable Mention) were All-SAA selections.
Several Colonel defensive linemen earned postseason recognition in 2013. Defensive tackle Tami Aderoba (First Team), DE Devon Freeman (Second Team), and DT Paul Megilligan (Second Team) were All-SAA honorees.
A 2010 Centre graduate, Collett earned All-SCAC honors in 2009 as a punter and won Centre's Homer Rice Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009. While kicking for the Colonels, Collett won the Hammer Award four times, multiple SCAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and once earned the D3football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week Award.
Collett earned his bachelor of science degree in Biology from Centre in 2010 and also holds a master of arts degree in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands in 2012. Prior to coaching at Centre, Collett spent three years teaching at Woodford County High School in Versailles, Ky., where he coached football and was also the head strength and conditioning coordinator.
Collett is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
"Recruiting is the life blood of any program," Creighton said. "The game doesn't exist without players, they are at the center of everything we do. Jeff Collett is going to make us better by directing our year round recruiting efforts. He brings vision, creativity, passion, organization and professionalism. Eastern Michigan football offers an incredible experience and Jeff is going to help us tell our story."
Most recently, Collett served as the Colonels' defensive line coach after joining Centre's staff in 2013. In 2016, he added recruiting coordinator responsibilities.
Under Collett's leadership, the defensive line had tremendous success both as a group and individually. In 2018, the Colonels finished 10-2 with an appearance in the "Sweet 16" of the Division III playoffs after winning the South Athletic Association (SAA) championship with a 7-1 mark. The squad finished the year at No. 14 in the D3football.com Top 25 and No. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll.
During the 2017 campaign, Collett's D-line helped the Colonels finish second in the SAA in tackles-for-loss per game. Individually, All-SAA selection Zach Berger led Centre and was fourth in the SAA with six sacks on the season, finishing with 24 tackles and eight for loss.
In 2016, Collett helped Ben Bostick finish his career as a two-time All-SAA selection while adding a CoSIDA Academic All-District nod.
In 2014, the defensive line helped the Colonel defense lead the SAA in takeaways and fewest points allowed. The unit helped improve in national defensive rankings in 2014, moving from 106th in rush defense to 47th, only allowing 127 yards per game. Four members of the defensive line received postseason honors for their efforts in the 2014 season. Senior defensive end Devon Freeman was named the SAA Defensive Player of the Year and received First Team All-SAA honors. Along with Freeman, DT Paul Megilligan (First Team), DE Rue Hockensmith (Second Team), and DT Kris Beauchamp (Honorable Mention) were All-SAA selections.
Several Colonel defensive linemen earned postseason recognition in 2013. Defensive tackle Tami Aderoba (First Team), DE Devon Freeman (Second Team), and DT Paul Megilligan (Second Team) were All-SAA honorees.
A 2010 Centre graduate, Collett earned All-SCAC honors in 2009 as a punter and won Centre's Homer Rice Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009. While kicking for the Colonels, Collett won the Hammer Award four times, multiple SCAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and once earned the D3football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week Award.
Collett earned his bachelor of science degree in Biology from Centre in 2010 and also holds a master of arts degree in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands in 2012. Prior to coaching at Centre, Collett spent three years teaching at Woodford County High School in Versailles, Ky., where he coached football and was also the head strength and conditioning coordinator.
Collett is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
2025-26 EMU Athletics In-Review
Tuesday, April 21
Spring Weekend 2026 Cinematic Recap
Monday, April 20
White Defeats Green in Annual Spring Football Game
Saturday, April 18
2026 Spring Game Press Conference
Saturday, April 18