Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Collett, Jeff
Jeff Collett
- Title:
- Associate Athletic Director/General Manager
- Email:
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Jeff Collett, who came to Ypsilanti in 2019 after spending six seasons at Centre College, is entering his seventh year at EMU. In April 2025, Collett was promoted to the Associate Athletic Director/General Manager for EMU Football after previously serving as the Associate AD for Football Operations/Chief of Staff and the Director of Recruiting Operations and Player Personnel.
Collett has been instrumental in building and advancing EMU’s recruiting operations, football administration, and organizational excellence under the direction of Head Coach Chris Creighton.
In his current role, Collett oversees the entire daily administrative operations of the football program, managing a broad support staff and all operational logistics. He plays a leading role in budget management, roster construction, and personnel strategy and serves as a key liaison between the football team and university departments, athletic administration, and external partners.
Collett serves as the program’s NFL liaison, coordinating relationships and communications between EMU Football and professional scouts, front offices, and alumni who are playing at the next level. He directly supervises the Recruiting and Operations departments, orchestrating everything from film evaluation and transfer portal scouting to logistics for official/unofficial visits, while shaping long-term roster strategy in collaboration with the coaching staff.
A driving force behind EMU’s modern approach to student-athlete empowerment, Collett has been instrumental in developing the program’s NIL initiatives, including collaboration with alumni on the creation of the TruEMU NIL Collective. His efforts have ensured that EMU remains competitive in the evolving collegiate landscape.
Hired initially as Director of Recruiting and Player Personnel, Collett was tasked with creating the infrastructure for a competitive, sustainable recruiting department — one that has since become one of the most effective in the Mid-American Conference. In July 2022, he was promoted to Associate AD for Football Recruiting and Operations/Chief of Staff.
Under Collett’s leadership, EMU has reached unprecedented heights in recruiting: No. 1-ranked MAC transfer class in 2023 (247Sports), No 2-ranked MAC recruiting class in 2023 (247Sports), Top recruiting classes in EMU history (2020–25) — including 7 of the program’s top 10 all-time signees, four consecutive years (2020–2023) with the highest-rated recruiting classes in program history, and the average class ranking in the top half of the MAC over six seasons, a significant rise from an average rank of 10th in the six years prior.
Before arriving at EMU, Collett spent six years at Centre College as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. His units consistently ranked among the best in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), producing numerous all-conference performers and playing a significant role in Centre’s rise to national prominence, including a 10-2 campaign in 2018 that culminated in a Division III playoff berth and a No. 14 national ranking.
Collett is a 2010 graduate of Centre College, where he earned All-SCAC honors as a punter and was a multiple-time special teams award recipient. He also holds a master’s degree in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
A native of Paintsville, Ky., Collett began his career in education and coaching at Woodford County High School, where he taught biology, coached football, and served as the school’s head strength and conditioning coordinator.
Collett has been instrumental in building and advancing EMU’s recruiting operations, football administration, and organizational excellence under the direction of Head Coach Chris Creighton.
In his current role, Collett oversees the entire daily administrative operations of the football program, managing a broad support staff and all operational logistics. He plays a leading role in budget management, roster construction, and personnel strategy and serves as a key liaison between the football team and university departments, athletic administration, and external partners.
Collett serves as the program’s NFL liaison, coordinating relationships and communications between EMU Football and professional scouts, front offices, and alumni who are playing at the next level. He directly supervises the Recruiting and Operations departments, orchestrating everything from film evaluation and transfer portal scouting to logistics for official/unofficial visits, while shaping long-term roster strategy in collaboration with the coaching staff.
A driving force behind EMU’s modern approach to student-athlete empowerment, Collett has been instrumental in developing the program’s NIL initiatives, including collaboration with alumni on the creation of the TruEMU NIL Collective. His efforts have ensured that EMU remains competitive in the evolving collegiate landscape.
Hired initially as Director of Recruiting and Player Personnel, Collett was tasked with creating the infrastructure for a competitive, sustainable recruiting department — one that has since become one of the most effective in the Mid-American Conference. In July 2022, he was promoted to Associate AD for Football Recruiting and Operations/Chief of Staff.
Under Collett’s leadership, EMU has reached unprecedented heights in recruiting: No. 1-ranked MAC transfer class in 2023 (247Sports), No 2-ranked MAC recruiting class in 2023 (247Sports), Top recruiting classes in EMU history (2020–25) — including 7 of the program’s top 10 all-time signees, four consecutive years (2020–2023) with the highest-rated recruiting classes in program history, and the average class ranking in the top half of the MAC over six seasons, a significant rise from an average rank of 10th in the six years prior.
Before arriving at EMU, Collett spent six years at Centre College as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. His units consistently ranked among the best in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), producing numerous all-conference performers and playing a significant role in Centre’s rise to national prominence, including a 10-2 campaign in 2018 that culminated in a Division III playoff berth and a No. 14 national ranking.
Collett is a 2010 graduate of Centre College, where he earned All-SCAC honors as a punter and was a multiple-time special teams award recipient. He also holds a master’s degree in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
A native of Paintsville, Ky., Collett began his career in education and coaching at Woodford County High School, where he taught biology, coached football, and served as the school’s head strength and conditioning coordinator.
| The Jeff Collett File | ||
| Name: | Jeffrey Allen Collett | |
| High School: | Paintsville H.S. - Paintsville, Ky. | |
| College: | Centre College - Bachelor’s degree in biology - 2010 | |
| University of the Cumberlands - Master's degree in teaching - 2012 | ||
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2025-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Associate Athletic Director/General Manager |
| 2022-25 | Eastern Michigan University | Associate AD for Football Operations/Chief of Staff |
| 2019-Pres. | Eastern Michigan University | Director of Recruiting Operations and Player Personnel |
| 2013-19 | Centre College | Assistant Coach - Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2010-13 | Woodford County H.S. | Teacher/Football Coach |
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