Coach Hawkins was invited to Collinsville to be interviewed for the job of football coach and was talked into also taking on basketball coaching, although he had no previous experience in the sport. The complete record of games for the 1919-20 season could not be found, but five wins and six losses were recorded. It is believed that seven or eight additional games were played.
The 1920-21 team was undefeated until the last game played. They were the first team to win a District tournament and the first team to represent Collinsville in the State Tournament. They won two games at State, but lost to Batavia, twenty-four to nine, finishing with a record of twenty wins and one loss.
Coach Hawkins proved that he could coach basketball as his teams continued to he winners. His 1921-22 team again won the District Tournament and recorded fifteen wins and four losses.
During the 1923-24 season, the Southwest Illinois Athletic Conference was formed. Collinsville proved early that they could be a contender, as they won second place.
Coach Hawkins left Collinsville after five years as the Head Basketball Coach. During this time he compiled a record of sixty-eight victories against twenty-five losses.
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