after retiring from his coaching career, collins studied law at rutgers school of law–camden, receiving his juris doctor degree in 1982. after a term on his local school board, the chairman of the salem county republican party asked him to run for the new jersey general assembly. riding the coattails of governor of new jersey thomas kean in 1985, collins and his running mate gary stuhltrager knocked off democratic incumbents martin a. herman and thomas a. pankok, helping give the republicans control of the general assembly for the first time in more than a decade. he took office in 1986, representing the 3rd legislative district.