Laguna Hills High School assistant football coach Dan Collins is fighting to return to the team after a serious motorcycle crash in December.
The Hawks are supporting the comeback.
Laguna Hills’ football program is raising awareness of a GoFundMe for the veteran coach, who is undergoing spinal rehabilitation in Pomona, his daughter Caitlin and Hawks coach John Lester said.
“His goal is to be back on the sideline,” Lester said of Collins, who coaches linebackers. “His fight is still there.”
Collins, 67, suffered multiple injuries and was left paralyzed from the shoulders down after the crash Dec. 17, Caitlin said.
Collins has regained some movement in his hand, wrist and feet, Caitlin added.
“He’s fighting,” she said. “It’s been a hard couple of months.”
While there have been challenges with insurance and medical setbacks, the GoFundMe aims to help pay for an electrical wheelchair and a wheelchair-accessible van, Caitlin said.
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The campaign has already raised more than $14,000.
Lester said Collins has coached football for more than 40 years, including stints at Trabuco Hills and Corona del Mar.
Collins was part of the coaching staff that guided Laguna Hills to the Division 3-A CIF State championship in 2022.
