New Temple Coach Geoff Collins Grew Up A Flyers Fan In Atlanta

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Geoff Collins was born in Atlanta.

As a 16-year-old kid, a book titled Pressure guided him towards being a football coach.

Related: Temple Picks Florida DC Geoff Collins To Be New Head Coach

But when Collins was introduced as the new head football coach at Temple University, he revealed his childhood love for Philadelphia's hockey team.

"My mom worked there [Omni Coliseum in Atlanta], we got free tickets," Collins said on Wednesday. "Whenever the Flyers were in town. I'm five, six, seven years old. I had to go see the Broad Street Bullies. I had to. I had my little Flyers gear, I had my little Flyers pennant, getting stuff thrown at me, but I didn't care. I wanted to see Bobby Clarke, I wanted to see Dave Schultz, and at a young age I was drawn to the physicality, the toughness, the never say die never quit -- which I think is Philly. Which I think is us.

"They're the Broad Street Bullies, we're on Broad Street, and the way these young men play is kind of reminiscent of what I fell in love with watching the Flyers as a young kid."

Temple Athletic Director Patrick Kraft described the qualities he was looking for when searching for Matt Rhule's successor, and toughness was right at the top of the list.

"We're gonna be physical," Kraft said. "That's our DNA. Temple Tough, the great [former Temple basketball coach] John Chaney. We're gonna be tough, we're not gonna deviate from that. We're gonna be tough, we're gonna be physical, we're hard-nosed, we're relentless, we're gonna get after you. That was a priority."

Collins has 22 years of coaching experience, spending time at Fordham, Albright College, Georgia Tech, Alabama, UCF, Florida International, Mississippi State, and Florida holding various position from defensive coordinator to recruiting coordinator.