Northridge Assistant Facing Theft Charge

Charles Collins, a former wide receiver at Cal State Northridge, was fired as a volunteer assistant coach for the Matadors because he is charged with grand theft auto, Northridge Coach Jim Fenwick said Friday.

Collins, 30, who is enrolled at Northridge and played for the Matadors in 1985, will appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Nov. 11 on the felony charge, according to Bob Coppola.

Coppola is Collins’ attorney and a volunteer Northridge coach.

“There is some positive information about the case I wish I could share, but I can’t do that without talking to Charles,” Coppola said.

Collins could not be reached for comment.

“I’ve asked him to remove himself from any participation from the team until he can get his stuff in order,” Fenwick said. “We are doing the right thing and I think we handled it properly.”

Fenwick was made aware of Collins’ legal problems at an Oct. 9 meeting with Northridge Athletic Director Paul Bubb, who was asked about Collins’ involvement with the team by police.

Collins, who coached kick returners and the scout team, is in his first year as a coach.

“His goal was to come back to school and help out with coaching,” Fenwick said. “I just wanted to help him out.”

Collins set a Western Football Conference record with 11 receptions against Portland State in 1985, his only season as a Matador. He was ineligible the next season.

In 1992, Collins was selected in the draft of the short-lived Professional Spring Football League.

Collins is one of three undergraduate volunteer assistants who supplement the eight-man paid staff along with one graduate volunteer assistant and Coppola.

Fenwick said the backgrounds of the volunteer assistants are not thoroughly checked.

“He told me he bought a car and drove it for a while and sold the car, not realizing that it was stolen,” Fenwick said. “He said he didn’t steal it.

“But if he’s convicted, he won’t be back.”

Staff writer Fernando Dominguez contributed to this story.