Robinson named Southern Utah coach

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LSU assistant accepts head job at Big Sky program

Fourth-year LSU sideline boss Trent Johnson has coached and worked alongside Nick Robinson (photo by Jay Potter).

Tiger Rag News Services

LSU assistant men’s basketball coach Nick Robinson has left the LSU staff to become the head basketball coach at Southern Utah University, it was announced on Thursday at a press conference in Cedar City, Utah. 

Robinson, who has been part of the LSU staff for three seasons, the last as assistant coach, will take over a program that will move into the Big Sky Conference for the 2012-13 season after competing in the Summitt Conference. SUU finished 14-17 this past season under veteran coach Roger Reid who recently announced his retirement.

The 32-year-old Robinson, a native of Liberty, Mo., played his college basketball at Stanford from 2001-05, where he was instrumental in guiding the Cardinal to an impressive 92-34 record and four trips to the NCAA Tournament.

“I feel that my responsibility as the next head men’s basketball coach here is to help the young men that come through this program to develop intellectually, culturally, socially and on the basketball court as well,” Robinson said at his press conference to announce his appointment. “That’s going to be our number-one responsibility, to make sure the guys that come through the program are students first, that they improve athletically, but they’re on track to graduate so they can move forward and have options, whether that’s in the business world, in education, or even playing at the next level.”

He began his college coaching career in 2006, serving as the Basketball Operations Director at Stanford under Coach Trent Johnson before becoming a full-time assistant for The Cardinal the next two seasons. After one year as an assistant coach at William Jewell College, Robinson rejoined with Coach Johnson, serving as Executive Assistant to the Head Coach in 2010, Director of Operations in 2011 and Assistant Coach in 2012 as the Tigers improved in both overall and SEC wins and the team returned to post-season play for the first time since 2009.

“I want to congratulate Nick Robinson,” said Coach Johnson, speaking from New Orleans where he is attending the NABC board meetings. “I cannot express my excitement for Nick. This is a great fit for both Nick and for Southern Utah. Having recruited him as a player at Stanford, it has been great to see his development first as a player and later as an assistant coach and I believe he is going to do extraordinary things as a head coach. I wish Nick and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

Robinson’s move to a head coaching position is another limb on the coaching tree of Trent Johnson that has sent seven former assistants to head coaching jobs. The others are:  Mark Fox (Georgia, Nevada); David Carter (Nevada); Eric Reveno (Portland); Josh Newman (Arkansas-Fort Smith); Chris Tifft (New Mexico JC; Lamar CC; and, Keith Richard, ULM.

“On a personal note I’d like to thank Coach Trent Johnson, the head coach at LSU who I’ve been extremely fortunate to work for as well as play for,” Robinson said. “I am grateful for his understanding and support throughout the entire process over the past couple of weeks; I’m grateful for all that he’s taught me, for the responsibilities he’s given me, for him as a mentor and once again, I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to work for him.”

Robinson, who won an ESPY for his “Best Moment” during the 2003-04 season when he helped steal the ball in a tie game at home against Arizona, took two dribbles across half court and fired home a successful 35-foot three-point shot as time expired, is a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection. He graduated from Stanford in 2005 with a master’s degree in sociology and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Robinson and his wife, Meagan, have a daughter Annie and two sons, Tate and Toby.

“Nick is exactly what this program needs,” said SUU Athletic Director Ken Beazer. “He comes to us with the highest of recommendations. He’s a tireless worker and an outstanding recruiter and we believe that he and his family will fit well into the community. Nick will build upon the foundation that we have and lead the program into the Big Sky Conference.”