Kristian Ferrell
Will Robinson, a beloved high school girls' basketball coach from Durant, Oklahoma, passed away in a tragic car accident on Christmas Eve in 2024. His SUV was swept away by floodwaters in Sherman, Texas, and his 8-year-old daughter, Clara, remains missing. Robinson was not just a talented coach but also a devoted husband, father, and teacher who deeply cared about his students and the Durant community. His father, Tony Robinson, is also a respected coach, having spent most of his career at Southeastern Oklahoma State University before assisting his son with the Durant Lady Lions. The loss of Coach Will Rob Robinson has left a profound impact on the school and the community, with many paying tribute to his positive influence and legacy.
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What You'll Learn
- Will Robinson was a beloved basketball coach at Durant High School
- Robinson and his family were involved in a car accident on Christmas Eve
- Durant Lady Lions basketball team played their first game after Robinson's passing
- Robinson's father, Tony, was also a coach and has been honoured alongside his son
- Durant school leaders and the community have expressed their grief and offered support
Will Robinson was a beloved basketball coach at Durant High School
Tony Robinson came out of retirement to work with his son as an assistant coach for the Lady Lions. Durant Public Schools Superintendent Mark Moring said of Will Robinson: "He was that guy that would do anything for the school, anything for the Durant Lions. [...] He supported students, he was everything to them."
Robinson's cousin, Susan Sumsurf, remembered him in a Facebook tribute: "This is just devastating, and happening on Christmas Eve makes it unbearable. Will was one of the good ones—a devoted husband and father, a beloved basketball coach, and just a great person."
In the wake of Robinson's death, the Durant Independent School District had a crisis plan in place, with counselors and other trained professionals available to visit with students as needed. The school district also requested support for the Robinson family and the "Lion Family" during their time of sorrow.
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Robinson and his family were involved in a car accident on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Will Robinson, a girls' basketball coach at Durant High School, was involved in a devastating car accident along with his family. The vehicle, a car with six people inside, hydroplaned on U.S. Highway 75 near Sherman, Texas, and crashed into a flooded drainage ditch. Four people were rescued from the vehicle, including a five-year-old girl who was found in the water and brought back to life by paramedics. Sadly, Will Robinson did not survive the crash, and his eight-year-old daughter, Clara, was swept away by the floodwaters and remained missing.
Durant Independent School District officials, students, and the community mourned the loss of Coach Robinson, who was described as someone who "would do anything for the school" and "supported students". He was also a talented basketball player himself, having played for his father's team at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and later becoming a coach at Durant High School, where he led the girls' basketball team to their deepest playoff run in decades.
Tony Robinson, Will's father, is a respected figure in Oklahoma basketball, with a spot in the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He came out of retirement to work as an assistant coach alongside his son at Durant. In the wake of the tragedy, he finds himself filling the unimaginable void left by his son's passing.
The school district activated its crisis plan, offering grief counsellors and other trained professionals to support students and the community. Superintendent Mark Moring expressed his condolences, asking for support for the Robinson family and the school community during their time of sorrow. The Durant Lady Lions basketball team also honoured Coach Robinson in their first game after his passing, with the community filling the stands in blue for Coach Rob and pink for Clara.
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Durant Lady Lions basketball team played their first game after Robinson's passing
The Durant Lady Lions basketball team played their first game after the tragic passing of their beloved coach, Will "Rob" Robinson, in a car accident on Christmas Eve. It was an emotional night for the team and the community as they took to the court for the first time without Coach Rob, who had joined the Durant Lions family in 2019.
The game, which took place on a Tuesday night, saw the community fill the stands, donning blue in memory of Coach Rob and pink for his 8-year-old daughter, Clara, who was also involved in the accident and remained missing. The Durant Lady Lions players and coaches showed immense resilience and strength in the face of adversity, taking to the court just a couple of weeks after losing their leader.
Coach Robinson was not just a coach but a pillar of the Durant community. He was described as a man who "would do anything for the school" by Durant Public Schools Superintendent Mark Moring. Robinson's father, Tony Robinson, a renowned coach himself, came out of retirement to work as an assistant coach for the Lady Lions alongside his son. Tony described his late son with three key words: faith, positivity, and humor.
The game was a testament to the impact Coach Rob had on the team and the community. Brad Dollar, CEO of Bryan County Sports, played a pivotal role in ensuring a strong turnout for the game, stating that "nothing matters more to an athlete than attendance and people being in the stands." The game served as a fitting tribute to Coach Rob and his contributions to the Durant Lady Lions and the community at large.
The Durant Lady Lions basketball team's first game after Coach Will Robinson's passing was a poignant and heartfelt display of the power of sports in healing a community. The team's performance and the community's support honored Coach Rob's legacy, and his memory will forever be intertwined with the Durant Lady Lions' identity.
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Robinson's father, Tony, was also a coach and has been honoured alongside his son
Will Robinson, a high school girls' basketball coach, and his daughter Clara were killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve. Robinson's father, Tony Robinson, was also a coach. Tony spent most of his career coaching at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and when he retired in 2011, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. However, he came out of retirement to work with his son as an assistant coach for the Durant Lady Lions.
Following Will's passing, Tony Robinson found himself filling the void his son left behind. Durant High School girls' basketball coach Tony Robinson described his late son using three keywords: faith, positivity, and humour. He said that Will was "amazing" and that his faith was "incredible". He also shared that Will was a "prankster" and a "clown", always messing with people, yet well-liked by everyone.
In April 2025, both Tony and Will were honoured as the Small-School East Coaches of the Year by the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association. A memorial scholarship in Will's name was also created, open to any Oklahoma senior who played on their high school girls' basketball team.
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Durant school leaders and the community have expressed their grief and offered support
Durant School District officials, leaders, and the community have expressed their grief and offered support following the tragic loss of Coach Will Robinson, the girls' high school basketball coach, in a Christmas Eve crash. Superintendent Mark Moring shared a statement expressing his condolences and asking for support for the Robinson family and the school community. The district has a crisis plan in place, offering grief counselors and other trained professionals to provide support to students as they navigate this difficult time.
The impact of Coach Robinson on the school and the community was profound. Durant Public Schools Superintendent Mark Moring described him as someone who "would do anything for the school, anything for the Durant Lions." Robinson's dedication to his students and the school was evident, and his presence will be deeply missed.
The school community has united to support one another and honor the memory of Coach Robinson. The first game following his passing saw the community fill the stands, donning blue for Coach Rob and pink for 8-year-old Clara Robinson, his daughter who was swept away in the crash and remains missing. The outpouring of support and the presence of the community served as a testament to the significance of Coach Robinson and the impact he had on those around him.
In addition to the grief counselors and trained professionals made available by the district, teachers and administrators have also played a vital role in supporting students through this challenging time. They have been encouraged to provide a variety of options for students to express their grief, including talking, writing, drawing, or other creative outlets. The school community has come together to ensure that students feel supported and understood as they process their loss and navigate the complexities of grief.
The tragic loss of Coach Will Robinson has left a profound impact on the Durant school community. Through the expression of grief, the offering of support, and the unity demonstrated by all, the school leaders and community have shown their deep respect for Coach Robinson and his family. The district's crisis plan and the dedication of teachers and administrators to support students through this difficult time reflect their commitment to helping the school community heal and persevere in the face of tragedy.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Robinson, a high school girls' basketball coach from Durant, Oklahoma, died in a car accident on Christmas Eve in 2024. His SUV was swept away by floodwaters near Sherman, Texas.
Yes, Will Robinson was married. He was described as a "devoted husband and father" by his cousin, Susan Sumsurf.
Yes, Will Robinson had at least two daughters. One of them, 8-year-old Clara, was swept away in the floodwaters and went missing during the accident that took her father's life.
Will Robinson's death greatly impacted the Durant basketball community. He was described as "everything to them" by Durant Public Schools Superintendent Mark Moring. The team played their first game after his passing on January 7, 2025, with the community filling the stands in blue for Coach Rob and pink for his missing daughter, Clara.
