(Columbia, Tenn. - April 10, 2015) The NJCAA named Columbia State Community College head basketball Coach Brian "Penny" Collins the 2015 NJCAA District 7 Coach of the Year. This is Collins' first year winning this award which is awarded to the region tournament championship team's coach.

"I am honored to receive the award," Collins said. "It is a testament to how well the guys bought into the system and continued to move toward one common goal the entire year… One Team, One Dream, One Goal-Championship!"

In 2014, Collins won the TCCAA 2014 Coach of the Year which is awarded to the coach based on regular season accomplishments.

The 2014-15 Chargers basketball team finished the year 26-7 regular season games including 14-4 conference games. The Chargers made it to the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2015 NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.