Eric Collins

Education

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Collins is a graduate of St. Lawrence University. He earned a master's degree from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1992.

Career

Collins first worked as a sideline reporter for the Chicago Bulls from 1997 to 2002. In 2002, Collins substituted for Mike Tirico on College Football on ABC, along with analyst Irving Fryar.

Beyond calling ESPN's coverage of college football, Collins' broadcasting experience also includes college basketball, as well as both college baseball and softball Super Regional tournaments. In 2004 and 2008, Collins was a part-time announcer for the Chicago White Sox. He also worked in Minor League Baseball, announcing for the Schaumburg Flyers and Rochester Red Wings. In 2005 and 2006, he worked the Women's College World Series games. Collins has been a member of the broadcasting team of the World Cup of Softball on ESPN since 2005, along with his broadcast partner, Michele Smith. In 2008, Collins announced the play-by-play for NBC Sports' coverage of the USA Baseball team during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.

From 2009 through 2013, Collins served as the part-time television voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking over the duties of Dodger radio voice Charley Steiner, who was the team’s play-by-play announcer on road telecasts calling games east of Phoenix.

In August 2010, the Big Ten Network announced that Collins would handle play-by-play duties in college football and basketball. He also does play-by-play announcing for Fox College Hoops. He was the announcer for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks men's basketball's win over Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 26, 2019.

On August 27, 2015, Collins was named the new television play-by-play announcer for the Charlotte Hornets, replacing Steve Martin, who returned to his original role as the team’s radio play-by-play voice. Collins was joined by former Hornet, Dell Curry and Stephanie Ready, the NBA’s first full-time female analyst.

In 2021, Collins announced for The Basketball Tournament 2021 alongside long-time TBT analyst Fran Fraschilla.

In 2022, Collins returned to college football as the announcer for FS1’s coverage of Duke vs. Northwestern on September 10, 2022.

Prior to the 2025-26 season, Collins was added to the broadcast team for the NBA on Prime Video, joining Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, and Michael Grady as play-by-play announcers.

On October 5, 2025, Collins worked as a play-by-play announcer on NFL on Fox coverage of a game between the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers. It was his first time calling a National Football League (NFL) game.

Media

In 2024, Collins was profiled in a short film by Joey Garfield, titled It's On Like a Pot of Neckbones: Inside the Mind of Eric Collins. The film highlights Collins’ unique combination of tactics he uses to aid his preparation.

References

References

1. Plowright, James. (2023-12-05). "Eric Collins Nominated For Major Broadcasting Award".
2. (2024-01-23). "Hornets Announcer Eric Collins Was the Real Star of Karl-Anthony Towns' 62-Point Game".
3. (14 October 2019). "Who are the top sports broadcasters from SU?". [[syracuse.com]].
4. (March 23, 2009). "The Dodgers Hire ESPN's Collins". Awful Announcing.
5. "Dodgers.com: Eric Collins to join Dodger broadcast team in 2009".
6. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/eric-collins/ Dodgers' Eric Collins adds Big Ten football to his announcing chores]
7. "2013-14 Fox College Hoops Announcers | B-FLO 360".
8. "FOX Sports Southeast Announces 2015-16 Hornets Telecast Team".
9. (23 March 2021). "The Hornets announcer earning the attention of millions nationwide". At The Hive.
10. (6 December 2021). "Eric Collins: I Don't Care If Opposing Fans Like How I Call A Game". Barrett Media.
11. (30 July 2021). "ESPN Set for TBT 2021 Championship Week July 31 – August 3". ESPN Press Room U.S..
12. "Duke vs Northwestern Football Game Highlights 9 10 2022".
13. Dennis, Zach. (October 6, 2025). "Social media wants 'more Eric Collins' after NFL debut for Hornets". [[The Charlotte Observer]].
14. Garfield, Joey Joey. (2024-05-03). "INSIDE THE MIND OF A PRO SPORTS ANNOUNCER".
15. Garfield, Joey. (2025-08-08). "It's on Like A Pot of Neckbones - Inside the Mind of Eric Collins". The Right Cuts.