On this day in 1970, William J. Robinson (June 3, 1911-April 28, 2008) became the first African American basketball coach in Division I, when Illinois State Athletic Director Milt Weisbecker hired him as head coach of the Redbirds. The ISU team recorded five consecutive winning seasons and produced such standouts as All-Pro guard Doug Collins and Bubbles Hawkins, who was an Olympian as well as a successful NBA guard. At that time, Coach Robinson was responsible for the entire program, including scheduling when many programs did not want to play against an African American coach. He left ISU with a 71-58 record to join the Detroit Pistons in 1975. A true pioneer, Will Robinson is also the first African American football scout in the NFL. He is credited with contributing to the rosters of two professional championship sports teams: the Detroit Lions (1957) and the Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990, 2004).
Redbird Arena, Illinois State University, 2009
Originally from Steubenville Ohio, Will Robinson lettered in five sports in a single season, led his golf team to a state championship, and was the quarterback of an undefeated, unscored upon football team at Steubenville High School. At West Virginia State College he earned varsity letters in four sports and a BA degree in1937. In 1938, he completed his MA from the University of Michigan in Physical Education. Coach Robinson also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Detroit in 1997. Will Robinson began his career as the first black high school coach in Detroit, Michigan, in part to defuse tensions after the 1943 race riots. Despite having no gym or football field, under his tutelage Miller High School won six championships including the first ever city championship against St. Joseph’s High school in 1947. For the next 26 years, he coached tennis, swimming, basketball, football, and golf, developing scholars as well as athletes. More than anything, sports for Coach Robinson meant access to education as a means to gain other opportunities.