Blue Tigers hire Collier as new women's basketball coach

Nicole Collier is taking over as head coach for the Lincoln women's basketball team.
Nicole Collier is taking over as head coach for the Lincoln women's basketball team.

Lincoln University decided to stay in-house when looking for its next women's basketball coach.

Nicole Collier, an assistant under Katie Vaughn for the past three seasons, has been picked to lead the Blue Tigers. The move was announced Monday.

Vaughn resigned April 20 to take the head coaching job at Missouri-St. Louis, leaving the Lincoln position vacant. Turns out Collier was the right person for the job.

"When we heard the announcement from Katie, we didn't really have to look that far," Lincoln athletic director Betty Kemna said. "Nicole's been here through three years with Katie and was very instrumental in turning the program around. It was really just a matter of waiting for paper work to get all squared away."