Flames Coach Takes Leave of Absence: Illinois-Chicago coach Jimmy Collins took a personal leave of absence from the team because of undisclosed reasons beginning Dec. 23. Associate coach Mark Coomes assumed the lead role in the Flames’ 77-69 loss to Illinois State. Collins does not have a timetable for returning, said Jim Schmidt, the school’s athletic director. Collins, who has a wife and four children, is the school’s all-time winningest coach. [12/27/06]