Dan Collen arrived in Humboldt County in 1973, to attend Humboldt State University (HSU). His professional goals were to become a teacher and coach. He was helped along the way by many motivating mentors, both at the College of the Redwoods and HSU, who helped shape his future and goals. Dan retired in the fall of 2016, as the longest tenured Athletic Director in Humboldt State University history. He led the HSU Athletic Department for 15 years and had 35 years of service to university.
College of the Redwoods provided Dan's first coaching/teaching opportunity at the collegiate level, where he served as the Corsairs Head Women's Volleyball Coach. Dan believes deeply in the value College of the Redwoods and what it provides to our students and communities.