Will Robinson (basketball) facts for kids

William J. Robinson (born June 3, 1911 – died April 28, 2008) was an important American college basketball coach and scout. He made history by becoming the first African-American head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. This happened when he took the job at Illinois State University in 1970.

Robinson also worked as a scout for the Detroit Pistons for 28 years. He spent 22 years as a part-time scout for the Detroit Lions football team. He is a member of seven different sports halls of fame. Will Robinson was also the first Black high school coach in Michigan, where he won two state championships in basketball.

Early Life and Sports

Will Robinson was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina. He went to Steubenville High School in Steubenville, Ohio. There, he was the quarterback for the football team and played golf. His football team had an amazing season, winning every game without letting the other team score any points. He also finished second in the state golf tournament. This was impressive because he wasn't allowed to play on the golf course with white players.

Robinson was the captain of both the golf and football teams. He also played baseball and ran track. He was the only player in Ohio state history to earn awards in five different sports! Later, he earned awards in four sports at West Virginia State University, graduating in 1937.

Coaching and Breaking Barriers

After college, Robinson struggled to find a job because of racial segregation. He went to graduate school at the University of Michigan to earn a master's degree in physical education. Even after that, finding a job was hard. He started coaching basketball at a YMCA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later in Chicago, where his teams won several city championships.

His success at the YMCA led him to his first high school coaching job in Chicago. In 1943, Robinson became the head coach at Miller High School in Detroit. He was chosen to help calm racial tensions in the city after some difficult times. For 16 years, Robinson was the only Black coach in Detroit.

Later, Robinson moved to Pershing High School in Detroit. There, he won two state basketball championships. His 1967 team included future stars like Spencer Haywood and Ralph Simpson. He also coached other famous athletes like Mel Daniels. During his time as a high school coach, Robinson helped more than 300 students go to college. He also organized coaching clinics for Black coaches in the South. He even got staff from the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers to help teach.

Because of his efforts, Lions coach Buddy Parker hired Robinson as the first Black scout in the NFL. As a scout, Robinson discovered amazing players like Pro Football Hall of Famers Charlie Sanders and Lem Barney.

In 1970, Robinson made history again. He was hired as the head coach at Illinois State University. This made him the first Black head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. He coached there from 1970 to 1975. His best player was Doug Collins, who was the top pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. In 2003, Robinson received a special lifetime achievement award.

The Detroit Pistons Era

Will Robinson retired from Illinois State in 1975. The next year, he joined the Detroit Pistons as a scout. He was amazing at finding talent! Robinson is credited with discovering Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman. These players were key parts of the Pistons' championship teams in 1989 and 1990.

The Pistons' general manager, Jack McCloskey, even offered Robinson the head coaching job. But Robinson turned it down, and the job went to Chuck Daly. Robinson retired from the Pistons in 2003. To honor him, the Pistons named their locker room the "Will Robinson Locker Room of Champions." The Pistons went on to win another NBA title that very season.

Will Robinson passed away on April 28, 2008, in Detroit. He was 96 years old. For the rest of the 2008 NBA Playoffs, the Pistons wore a black patch on their uniforms to remember him.