Arthur “Bud” Collins, the first tennis coach in Brandeis’ history and a respected member of the Brandeis Hall of Fame, passed away at the age of 86 on Friday. 

His death was first announced by his wife, Anita Ruthling Klaussen, on her personal Facebook page, according to his obituary in the New York Times. 

Collins coached the tennis team from 1959 to 1963 and guided the team to its first undefeated season in 1959, when the team went 7-0. Collins held a 48-16 record as head coach of the Judges before leaving the school to take a position at the Boston Globe as a full-time tennis writer. 

Collins spent his time at the Globe split between writing and broadcast. He was one of the first print journalists to step in front of the camera. He became known during his respected broadcast career for his playful and colorful attire and hosted the popular NBC segment “Breakfast at Wimbledon,” a live play-by-play and commentary from the All England Club.

Collins covered 44 Wimbledon Championships for the Boston Globe during his career before being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994. 

During his time as coach of the Judges, Collins coached Abbie Hoffman ’59, who rose to the forefront of the counterculture movement when he founded the Youth International Party in 1967. 

He was awarded the Red Smith Award in 1999, an award from the Associated Press Sports Editors for “major contributions to sports journalism,” according to its website. Collins was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2002 with baseballlegend and play-by-play announcer Bob Murphy.

Collins was inducted as a member of the Brandeis Hall of Fame on Nov. 1, 2009. 

A memorial service to Collins will take place in June around his June 17 birthday, according to his official Facebook page.

— Avi Gold