Began: 2009-10 | Season: 2014-15 is his 6th season
Overall record at Milligan entering 2014-15 season: 74-75
Head coach Bill Robinson is in his sixth season as head coach of the Milligan College Buffaloes. In his second season, Robinson led the Buffaloes to their first AAC regular season championship in 10 years.
In the 2013-14 season, Robinson and the Buffs achieved an 18-10 record with an 11-7 conference record. They battled to the semifinals of the AAC conference tournament, but narrowly fell to No. 24 Union College in an intensely competitive game.
The Buffs finished the 2010-11 season with an overall record of 17-12 and Coach Robinson was awarded his fourth Coach of the Year award (first at Milligan) following the season.
During Robinson’s first two years at Milligan, his players have won a number of individual awards including an All-American honorable mention, four All-AAC performers, the Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Robinson comes to Milligan after 12 seasons at the helm of the Montreat College basketball program. On November 20, 2008, Montreat defeated Warren Wilson College for Coach Robinson’s 200th career win. The Cavs were also voted the AAC Men’s Basketball Champions of Character four years in a row from 2004-2008.
Robinson established a winning tradition at Montreat, and transformed a program that struggled during its first few years at four-year status. When he was hired in 1997, Robinson inherited a group of players that was last in the conference the previous season. By 1999-00, Robinson had crafted a team that would place first at the AAC tournament and gain the program’s first invitation to the national tournament. During his last 10 years at Montreat, the Cavaliers won an average of 18 games per season, had four 20-win seasons, won an AAC regular season championship, two AAC tournament championships and made two appearances at the national tournament.
Along the way, Coach Robinson has acquired a reputation for recruiting and developing some of the finest student-athletes at the NAIA level. The senior class of 2006 represents perhaps Robinson’s strongest recruiting class to date and includes the AAC All-Conference front court of Tim Lewis and Noble Anthony. Robinson’s athletes are not only distinguished by their achievements on the court, but by their commitment to academics, service and leadership.
Montreat is not the only basketball program to experience a reversal of fortunes under Coach Robinson’s charge. Prior to Montreat, Robinson served as the head men’s basketball coach at LeTourneau University in Texas. Upon his promotion from assistant to head coach in 1993, Robinson – at the age of 25 – became the youngest head coach in the nation. In three years, Coach Robinson turned around LeTouneau’s struggling basketball program, and in 1996-97 led them to a 14-13 record, their only winning season during the past 20 years.
Robinson earned a master’s degree in health and kinesiology from the University of Texas at Tyler. His graduate work included a month-long internship with the Dallas Mavericks. Robinson’s responsibilities included assisting in the preparation for the 1996 NBA draft in which the Mavericks selected former NBA forward, Samaki Walker.
A 1991 graduate of The King’s College in New York, Robinson earned a B.A. in physical education. Robinson was highly decorated as a two-sport college athlete, competing in both basketball and baseball. He was named to the men’s basketball NCCAA All-American team both his junior and senior years. As a senior, he was named NAIA Conference MVP, All-American honorable mention, and received the Pete Maravich award as the NCCAA’s most outstanding player. Robinson led the Kings to an overall 99-35 record. He finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,696 points. His jersey (#13) was retired at his last home game. Robinson remained at his alma mater for a further two years serving as assistant basketball coach, head baseball coach, and admissions counselor.
A native of Ocean City, New Jersey, Robinson graduated from Atlantic Christian School. He competed at the varsity level in soccer, basketball and baseball, earning a total of 12 varsity letters. He served as team captain and was voted team MVP in all three sports. As a junior, Robinson led the nation in scoring with 39.8 points per game and was named USA Today All-American honorable mention in basketball.
Robinson was born February 20, 1969. He and his wife, Barb, have three children – son, Will (1995) – and daughters, Sarah (1997) and Rachel (1999). Will is a sophomore at Milligan and a post player on Coach Robinson’s current squad.