๐ HBD, Coach! A Celebration of Legacy, Loyalty, and the Lives Changed Along the Way
Blacksburg, VA โ July 13, 2025
The sun had barely risen over Lane Stadium, but something special was already in the air. Dozens of balloons hovered over the entrance gates. Banners rippled in the breeze, one reading: โHappy Birthday, CoachโYou Built This.โ And by mid-morning, nearly 2,000 Hokiesโplayers past and present, students, staff, and fansโgathered to honor a man whose leadership shaped not just a football team, but an entire community.
Today was Coach Darrell โD.C.โ Collinsโ 65th birthday. And Blacksburg made sure he felt every bit of appreciation he had earned.
For over four decades, Coach Collins has been a fixture at Virginia Techโfirst as a scrappy special teams assistant, then a defensive coordinator, and finally, head coach, a role heโs held for 18 seasons. Under his leadership, the Hokies claimed three ACC titles, made 11 bowl game appearances, and sent dozens of players to the NFL. But ask anyone around campus, and theyโll tell you his biggest victories werenโt on the scoreboard.
โHe was the guy who came to my dorm at 2 a.m. when I lost my dad,โ said former linebacker Jamal Reed, now a motivational speaker. โHe taught me how to be a man before he taught me how to read a coverage.โ
Coach Collinsโ birthday celebration wasnโt just a partyโit was a full-scale event. A surprise video tribute aired at noon, featuring messages from legends like Michael Vick, Bruce Arians, and Frank Beamer, as well as lesser-known walk-ons and longtime athletic trainers. Each voice echoed the same themes: toughness, compassion, vision, and unwavering loyalty.
But the emotional climax came when Collins himself took the stage during a small ceremony inside the Merryman Athletic Center. Dressed in a simple pullover and ball cap, he didnโt want the spotlightโbut he got it anyway.
โIโm not much for birthdays,โ he began, his voice cracking slightly. โBut if I had to spend one with anyone, itโd be with the people who made this journey worth it.โ
Then, he held up a worn-out, laminated index cardโthe same one heโs carried in his back pocket for 35 years. It read: โToday, someone needs you to show up for them.โ
โI never planned on being a legend,โ he said. โI just planned on showing up. And somehow, that turned into a lifetime.โ
The room fell silent. A few tears fell. Then came the thunderous chant: โCoach! Coach! Coach!โ
As the sun set over Hokie Nation and fans lined up for birthday cupcakes shaped like footballs, one thing became clearโthis wasnโt just a celebration of a manโs birthdate. It was a tribute to his purpose.
Happy Birthday, Coach. You didnโt just coach football. You built a family. And that family will never forget it.
