CHRISTIAN & CHRISTOFFER COLLINS

Being identical twins has provided Christian and Christoffer Collins with a wealth of stories. “I was never without a friend at home, church, school camps, etcetera. Everywhere I went, I always knew there was a spitting image of me who had my back,” says Christian.

He adds, “People always ask if we feel each other’s pain, and I always say yes. I remember one time he fell down the steps and before he even started crying, I began to cry.”

As boys, Christian admits he and his brother were mischievous teammates. “We played tricks on our parents, teachers, coaches, or just about anyone who knew us … It was double the fun, double the trouble.” Christoffer recalls a time he got in trouble with his mother for something Christian did. “She made the mistake of getting us mixed up. I was just an innocent bystander,” he maintains.

Today, the duo regales audiences with hilarious tales of twin shenanigans and continues to play a prank or two. Their nearly identical appearances and similar senses of style feed the fun and receive double takes from passersby. “I love the attention - the shocked, surprised, or even puzzled looks we get from people when they see us for the first time,” says Christian.

The brothers are teammates in a more literal sense as they root for the Chattanooga Preparatory School Sentinels as members of the school’s staff. A physical education teacher and the head basketball coach, Christoffer succeeded in persuading Christian to join him. “I actually got him out of nursing to come and help me build my basketball program at Chattanooga Prep,” says Christoffer.

For Christian, the decision to join his brother made sense. “I started off wanting to become a teacher. My mom, dad, and uncle were all educators … seeing the impact they all have made on the individual lives they’ve encountered led me to accept a position at Chattanooga Prep as a P.E. educator and coach,” explains Christian.

Christian shares that he and Christoffer both “have an undying passion for the sport of basketball, especially when it comes to playing the game, teaching and coaching, and most importantly, changing the lives and having a positive impact on the young men we’re surrounded by each day.”

“I’m very blessed to have an identical sibling,” says Christoffer. Considering what he enjoys most about working alongside Christian, he concludes, “Feeding off each other’s positive energy. Two is always better than one.”