Valley and Alaska Fairbanks basketball coaches to appear at benefit clinic for injured Wasilla High coach

Sept. 15, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - The Mat-Su Valley basketball community is coming together to help one of its own.

The Wasilla High School boys' basketball program is hosting the Coaches for Coach Collins Benefit Clinic at Teeland Middle School on Sept. 29 and 30. Proceeds from the clinic will go toward a fund that has been set up for WHS assistant boys basketball coach Jake Collins, who suffered life-threatening injuries during a hunting accident on Aug. 18.

Collins, a 2002 graduate of WHS, slipped and fell during the hunting trip, and is currently in the intensive care unit at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.

&#8220For a lot of people, the immediate response was, what can we do to help?” Wasilla head coach Jason Marvel said. &#8220We began to realize that Jake obviously is going to be in the hospital for a long period of time. Even with insurance, the costs will rise for his family. People wanted to find some way to help.”

The camp will feature not only the Wasilla High coaching staff, but also coaches from Colony, Palmer and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Division II men's basketball squad.

&#8220What I think is really neat, is it shows Valley coaches are fierce competitors on the court, but off, we certainly take care of our own,” Marvel said. &#8220We felt like we all needed to do something. Jake has meant so much to Wasilla and the Wasilla basketball community.”

Collins, a varsity player during Marvel's first season coaching in the Warrior hoops program, has worked on Marvel's staff for the last two seasons.

&#8220He's always been a guy I can rely on,” Marvel said. &#8220He's my right-hand man. I certainly hope and pray that he gets well enough to be able to fit right back in.”

Among the featured coaches are Marvel, Palmer head coach Greg Fullmer, Colony head coach Jeff Bowker, Alaska Fairbanks head coach Frank Ostanik and UAF assistant Rich Mendoza.

The camp is for both boys and girls, and the instructors will focus on the basic fundamentals and concepts of the game. Players can

register from 4-4:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.

Student-athletes in grades three through eight meet from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 and 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Sept. 30. High school-aged players meet from 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 29 and 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Sept. 30.

The cost to participate is $60, and that fee includes a camp T-shirt.

For more information, contact Marvel at 376-5341, ext. 299. Registration forms can be found at www.wasillabball.org.

A fund has also been set up at Wells Fargo. Checks can be made payable to &#8220For the benefit of Jake Collins.” Those donating are asked to reference account number 2526645706.

Marvel said additional fund-raisers, such as spaghetti feeds, are being organized. Those interested in donating, attending or volunteering can contact Marvel.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.