The timing doesn't serve a greater purpose for anyone

Marshall Collins did a fine job in his short tenure heading the College of Marin basketball program in between David Granucci stepping down and Scott Thom recently taking over. The team had to give up wins as well as deal with playoff ineligibility yet Collins stayed positive. Posting a 5-5 record out of the gate was downright amazing considering he was brought aboard a week before the season began.

After the season, Ty Davis signed with San Francisco State, George Johnson ditto with University of Pikeville, Noah Everly moved a bit north to Sonoma State, Keiland Callum headed to Cal State Stanislaus and Bobby Reeves inked with Simpson University up in Redding.

But the timing of Collins' recent departure vis-a-vis Thom landing the position doesn't work for anyone. Maybe there was some sort of policy, rule or regulation determining the timeline of the permanent hiring process. More likely it was because there also was a new COM athletic director to be hired and that finally took place in August.

So during the summer and beyond, it was up to Collins to work out a season schedule as well as begin fielding a team while also having to tell prospects that he might not be their coach this season. When he didn't finish on top in the interviewing process for the Mariner head coach position, he was out.

Maybe nothing could have been done differently but Collins is no longer a community college head coach, Thom is scrambling to hold on to what Collins set up as well as build additional prerequisites just to have a season. The COM hoops student-athletes have experienced certain aspects of the business world. Good luck to all.