Amanda Knapp
Will Robinson is a basketball coach and former player. After graduating from West Virginia State, Robinson began his coaching career at a YMCA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went on to coach at various high schools in Detroit, including Miller High School and Pershing High School, where he won two state titles. Robinson became the first black head coach in NCAA Division I basketball when he was hired by Illinois State University in 1970. After retiring from Illinois State in 1975, he worked as a scout for the Detroit Pistons and played a key role in discovering players like Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman. Robinson's achievements were recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Missouri Valley Conference in 2003. Another notable basketball player named Nate Robinson played for the Seattle Seahawks practice squad in 2016 and ventured into acting and boxing. Additionally, Mitchell Robinson, a young basketball player, was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2018 and has been making a name for himself in the NBA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Will Robinson |
| Occupation | Basketball coach |
| Education | West Virginia State, University of Michigan |
| Notable Achievements | First black scout in the NFL, Lifetime achievement award from the Missouri Valley Conference, named a locker room after him |
| Coaching Career | DuSable High School, Miller High School, Pershing High School, Illinois State University |
| Notable Players Coached | Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Charlie Sanders, Lem Barney |
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What You'll Learn
Will Robinson's career as a basketball coach
Will Robinson's career in basketball coaching began at a YMCA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after he was unable to find a job following graduation. He went on to coach at another YMCA in Chicago, winning several city championships. This success landed him his first high school coaching job at DuSable High School, also in Chicago. In 1943, Robinson took up the head coaching position at Miller High School in Detroit, becoming the only black coach in the city for the next sixteen years.
Robinson later moved to Pershing High School, also in Detroit, where he won state titles in 1967 and 1970. During his time at Pershing, he coached several notable players, including Spencer Haywood, Ralph Simpson, and Marvin Lane. Robinson also enabled more than 300 students to attend college and organized coaching clinics for black coaches in the south. As a result of his efforts, he was hired as the first black scout in the NFL by Lions coach Buddy Parker. In this role, he discovered Pro Football Hall of Famers Charlie Sanders and Lem Barney.
In 1970, Robinson was hired as the head coach at Illinois State University, becoming the first black head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. He compiled a record of 78-51 during his time there, with his best player being Doug Collins, the school's only consensus All-American and the #1 pick in the 1973 NBA draft. Robinson retired from Illinois State in 1975 and took up a scouting position for the Detroit Pistons in 1976. He was key in the discovery of Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, pivotal members of the Pistons' championship-winning teams in 1989 and 1990.
Despite being offered the Pistons' head coaching job, Robinson turned it down, and the role went to Chuck Daly. Robinson retired from the Pistons in 2003, and during the 2003-04 NBA season, the Pistons named their locker room after him: "Will Robinson Locker Room of Champions." In 2003, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Missouri Valley Conference, rounding off a successful and groundbreaking career in basketball coaching.
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Robinson's time at DuSable High School, Chicago
Will Robinson's time at DuSable High School in Chicago marked the beginning of his illustrious coaching career. After facing initial challenges in finding a job, Robinson's perseverance led him to coaching at a YMCA in Chicago, where he achieved notable success by winning several city championships. This impressive performance served as a launching pad for his first high school coaching opportunity at DuSable High School.
During his time at DuSable High School, Robinson laid the foundation for his future accomplishments as a coach. Although the specific details of his tenure at the school are not readily available, it is evident that he made a strong impression. His ability to lead and inspire young athletes was likely honed during these formative years as a high school coach. Robinson's impact extended beyond the basketball court, as he played a pivotal role in calming racial tensions in Detroit during his subsequent tenure at Miller High School.
Robinson's dedication to his craft and the success of his students cannot be overstated. Throughout his career, he enabled more than 300 students to attend college, showcasing his commitment to not just athletic excellence but also the holistic development of his players. This impact was particularly notable during his time at Pershing High School in Detroit, where he led his team to state championships in 1967 and 1970.
While Robinson's time at DuSable High School may have been brief, it undoubtedly contributed to shaping his approach to coaching and his unwavering dedication to his players' success. His journey from YMCA coach to head coach at the high school level demonstrates his tenacity and the recognition of his talent. Robinson's influence on the lives of his students extended beyond their time in high school, as evidenced by the success of his former players in both collegiate and professional sports.
Robinson's tenure at DuSable High School, Chicago, represents the early stages of a remarkable coaching career that would go on to break racial barriers and leave a lasting impact on the sport. His journey from facing employment challenges due to racial segregation to becoming a trailblazer in NCAA Division I basketball is a testament to his resilience, talent, and unwavering dedication to the advancement of his players, both on and off the court.
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Robinson's achievements at Miller High School, Detroit
Will Robinson's achievements at Miller High School in Detroit were significant and groundbreaking. He was selected as the head coach at Miller High in 1943, a role he took on due to his ability to calm racial tensions in the city following the previous summer's race riots. Robinson was the only black coach in Detroit for the next sixteen years, and he made a profound impact during his time at Miller High.
During his tenure, Robinson not only fostered success on the basketball court but also prioritized his players' education and future prospects. He enabled more than 300 students to attend college, demonstrating his commitment to their academic success and holistic development. Robinson's dedication to his players extended beyond the classroom and the basketball court. He organized coaching clinics for black coaches in the south, further contributing to the advancement of racial equality in sports.
Robinson's coaching clinics at Miller High School caught the attention of the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers. He recruited staff members from these professional sports organizations to provide instruction at his clinics, elevating the level of coaching and creating valuable opportunities for aspiring athletes and coaches. Robinson's efforts and connections within the sports community in Detroit laid the foundation for future achievements.
While Robinson's win-loss record at Miller High School is not publicly available, his overall impact on the program and the larger community is undeniable. His ability to lead and inspire extended beyond the basketball court, as he played a pivotal role in fostering racial harmony and providing opportunities for aspiring coaches and athletes. Robinson's achievements at Miller High School, Detroit, set the stage for the rest of his illustrious career in sports.
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Robinson's post-high school coaching career
After his high school coaching career, Will Robinson went on to have a successful career in basketball coaching and scouting. He left Miller High School and joined Pershing High School in Detroit, where he won two state titles, in 1967 and 1970. Robinson coached several notable players during his time at Pershing, including Spencer Haywood, Ralph Simpson, and Marvin Lane.
In 1970, Robinson was hired as the head coach at Illinois State University, becoming the first black head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. He compiled a record of 78-51 during his time at Illinois State from 1970 to 1975. Robinson's standout player during this period was Doug Collins, who became the school's only consensus All-American and was the #1 pick in the 1973 NBA draft.
Following his time at Illinois State, Robinson retired in 1975 and took up a scouting role for the Detroit Pistons in 1976. He had a keen eye for talent and was responsible for discovering Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, who would become pivotal players in the Pistons' championship-winning teams in 1989 and 1990. Robinson was highly regarded in his role, and the Pistons even offered him the head coaching position. However, he turned it down, and the role went to Chuck Daly instead. Will Robinson retired from the Pistons in 2003, and his remarkable contributions were recognized when the Pistons named their locker room the "Will Robinson Locker Room of Champions" during the 2003-04 NBA season.
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Robinson's career as an NBA scout
Will Robinson's career as an NBA scout began in 1976 when he took up a position with the Detroit Pistons, a year after retiring from Illinois State. Robinson's tenure with the Pistons was highly successful, as he was responsible for discovering key players such as Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, who would go on to be pivotal members of the Pistons' championship-winning teams in 1989 and 1990. Robinson's success as a scout was built on a foundation of coaching experience.
Before his career as an NBA scout, Robinson had a long and distinguished career as a basketball coach. After graduating from West Virginia State, he was unable to find a job due to racial segregation and was forced to continue his education at the University of Michigan, where he earned a master's degree in physical education. He began his coaching career at a YMCA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later in Chicago, where he won several city championships. This success led to his first high school coaching job at DuSable High School in Chicago. In 1943, he took up the head coaching position at Miller High School in Detroit, becoming the only black coach in the city for the next sixteen years.
Robinson's time at Miller High School was notable for his work in calming racial tensions in the city following the race riots of the previous summer. He later moved to Pershing High School in Detroit, where he won back-to-back state championships in 1967 and 1970. During his high school coaching career, Robinson enabled more than 300 students to attend college and made a significant impact on racial equality by organizing coaching clinics for black coaches in the south. He recruited staff members from the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers to provide instruction at these clinics, which led to him being hired as the first black scout in the NFL by Lions coach Buddy Parker.
As an NFL scout, Robinson discovered Pro Football Hall of Famers Charlie Sanders and Lem Barney. In 1970, he returned to basketball when he was hired as the head coach at Illinois State University, becoming the first black head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. Robinson's success as a coach and scout is underscored by his ability to identify and develop talent, as evidenced by the success of the players he coached and scouted. In recognition of his outstanding career, Robinson received a lifetime achievement award from the Missouri Valley Conference in 2003, and the Pistons named their locker room after him during the 2003-04 NBA season.
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