collins was born in atlantic city and moved to gloucester city, new jersey at a young age. he attended gloucester catholic high school, where he excelled at basketball. he went on to glassboro state college (now rowan university), receiving a b.a. degree in science education in 1964 and a master's degree in student personnel services in 1967. with the glassboro profs basketball team, collins scored 1,038 points in his career, earning him a place in the south jersey basketball hall of fame.