Odenville Middle School librarian and St. Clair County High School assistant football coach Michael "Mike" Collins was found dead in his home on Monday, Aug. 21 from an apparent homicide. The investigation is ongoing. Photo courtesy of Odenville Middle School

SPRINGVILLE – St. Clair County authorities continue their homicide investigation after a 46-year-old man was found dead inside his Evergreen Road home here Monday.

According to various media reports, including al.com and WBRC, the St. Clair County Coroner identified the victim as Michael Collins. As of late Monday, an autopsy had not yet been performed. Collins was the librarian at Odenville Middle School.

The Odenville Middle School website states that Collins worked at Odenville Middle School for 10 years, the first four teaching seventh grade reading, before spending the past six as the school librarian. Collins was also an assistant football coach at St. Clair County High School, according to WBRC.

Assistant Sheriff Billy Murray said the discovery was made at 8:46 a.m. Monday. Authorities have not said how the man was killed.

No other information has been released and the investigation is ongoing.

In a report from WBRC, St. Clair County High School’s head football coach Matt Glover said, “He (Collins) was a really, really good man. Didn’t have children of his own…treated them kind of like they were his own kids.”

The football team will hold a candlelight vigil for Collins Tuesday night at 8 p.m. at the high school practice field. They are inviting everyone to attend and to bring candles in honor of Collins.

On the St. Clair County High School Facebook page, there were several posts about Collins, including: “Today we mourn the loss of one of our own. Mike Collins will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of the Odenville community. He gave so much to others and became a father figure to those he taught at the middle school and coached at the high school. Our hearts are saddened but our resolve is strong. As we move forward, we will be here to support your children, just as Mike did each and every day.”