 Collier grew up in Paris , Kentucky and attended Paris High School . After graduating from Georgetown College , he returned to his old high school to teach and coach sports for 16 years . Collier left the position to join the U.S. Navy in 1943 during World War II . At a naval base outside of Chicago he met Paul Brown , who was coaching a service football team there . After the war , Brown hired Collier as an assistant coach for the Browns , a team under formation in the All @-@ America Football Conference ( AAFC ) . After seven years as Brown 's top aide , a span over which the Cleveland team won five league championships , Collier took a job as head football coach at the University of Kentucky in 1954 . His Kentucky Wildcats teams amassed a 41 – 36 – 3 win @-@ loss @-@ tie record over eight seasons . 
