Jerry Collincini, EDU '74

A lifelong Owls supporter, Collincini is retired from his positions as parks and recreation director in Manalapan, New Jersey, and adjunct professor at nearby Rutgers University.

Thanks to a Temple athletic scholarship, he played football under legendary Coach Wayne Hardin and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974 from what was then the College of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In 1978, he received an M.Ed. in Recreation and Leisure Studies.

Temple academics and athletics laid the groundwork for his career. "Temple provided the foundation to be successful in my industry," Collincini says. "Temple football provided many intangibles—a football family in Philadelphia, lifelong friends and life lessons learned from Coach Hardin."

His Temple education, he says, has defined his career. Under his direction, Manalapan's Recreation Center became one of the largest municipally-owned and operated facilities of its kind on the East Coast. Collincini played a vital role in framing the legal concept known as the NJ Little League Law that protects volunteers from civil lawsuits. He has won county, state and national recognition for his professional work.

Enthusiastic travelers in retirement, Collincini and his wife, Rena, still take advantage of the season tickets they've held to Owls football and basketball games since 1976. With their encouragement, the Collincinis' nephew, Adam Figura '11, graduated from Temple's Fox School of Business. Today, he is an executive projects coordinator with Lincoln Financial Group in San Ramon, California.

To honor Coach Hardin, Collincini has established a gift in his will to support the new Hardin Wing football practice facility.

"I have found it personally rewarding to give to Temple," he says. "It's a place that changed my life."

Discover how you can give back to Temple with a planned gift. Contact Tom Yates at tyates@temple.edu or (215) 926-2545 to learn more.