Franklin County product Jamie Collins always carried the reputation of having an abnormally high IQ on the football field during his prep, collegiate, and pro careers. 

It makes sense then that one of his former coaches, longtime New England Patriot legend Bill Belichick, has recently named Collins to his inaugural staff at the University of North Carolina. 

Collins was a state championship winning star at Franklin County before then playing at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

He retired from the NFL in 2023 after spending 10 years in the league as a linebacker. 

Collins played three different times for Belichick and the Patriots, the team that selected him in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. 

He was part of Super Bowl winning teams in 2014 and 2016 in New England. Collins also played for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns during his career. 

Belichick was hired with much fanfare in the offseason to lead UNC football in Chapel Hill. His inaugural staff includes his sons Steven and Brian along with a mixture of experienced assistants from the pro and college levels. 

Collins will coach inside linebackers.