Pine Tree ISD Board of Trustees Approves David Collins As Athletic Director + Head Football Coach

The Pine Tree ISD board of trustees approved former Lake Travis offensive coordinator David Collins as its next athletic director and head football coach at a special meeting Monday night in Longview.

Collins replaces Derek Fitzhenry, who was separated from the position in October of last year amid allegations of wrongdoing within the athletic department, and interim AD Derrick Hennigan.

“I am humbled and honored to have been offered the athletic director/head football position at Pine Tree ISD,” said Collins in a release sent out by PTISD last week. “I want to thank the PTISD selection committee for their professionalism throughout the process, and for affording me this opportunity.”

Collins spent the last three season as offensive coordinator at Lake Travis, one of the top programs in all of Texas. Under Collins, Lake Travis compiled a 37-4 record and won the 2011 Class 4A Division I state championship.

Prior to his time at Lake Travis, Collins held assistant coaching jobs at both Mabank and Garland.

According to PTISD superintendent Dr. T.J. Farler, there were 78 applicants for the job from the time the job was posted in early December until the deadline to receive applications.

“We interviewed seven people in the first round and three candidates rose to the top," Farler said in the release. "This has been a collaborative process. After the job was posted in December 2013, we started the process with discussions from all stakeholders. We talked to student athletes, coaches, faculty and staff members at the campuses; discussions have been conducted with the Board of Trustees, and the community.”

Pine Tree was 3-7 in 2013 and has not made the playoffs in football since 2001.

For more on Pine Tree ISD's hiring process, read the full release.