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Milligan College, Tenn. (March 26, 2009) — Milligan College announced at a media event this afternoon that former Montreat College Head Coach Bill Robinson will take the helm of the men’s basketball program beginning Tuesday, March 31.
Robinson fills the coaching position vacated by long-time Head Coach Tony Wallingford who stepped down in February to refocus his coaching efforts on men’s golf and to help launch a women’s golf program at Milligan.
“I am thrilled to be the new men’s basketball head coach at Milligan College,” said Robinson. “Coach Wallingford has established a winning tradition and it is my pleasure to follow his lead. I have watched for many years while participating in the same conference and have always had the utmost respect and admiration for the entire athletic department. I look forward to starting a new chapter of Buffalo Basketball!”
During the past eight years of Robinson’s 12 year tenure at Montreat, the Cavaliers had four 20-win seasons, won an AAC regular season championship, two AAC tournament championships and made two appearances at the national tournament. Additionally, Robinson, a three-time AAC Coach of the Year, sets a standard for his players off the court. As a result, the Cavaliers were voted the AAC Men’s Basketball Champions of Character four years in a row.
“Coach Robinson knows the NAIA and our conference and has been successful at both levels,” said Mark Fox, vice president for student development. “He is a passionate coach and committed Christian who integrates faith with coaching. He is a good fit for Milligan.”
Before coaching at Montreat, Robinson served as the head men’s basketball coach at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. Upon his promotion from assistant to head coach in 1993, Robinson, then 25, became the youngest head coach in the nation. In just three years Robinson transformed LeTourneau’s basketball program and in 1996-97 led them in their first winning season in 10 years. While in Texas, Robinson also earned a master’s degree in health and kinesiology from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Aside from coaching, Robinson also is familiar with the NAIA from a player’s perspective, having played both basketball and baseball at The King’s College (New York, N.Y.), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. 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 and received the Pete Maravich Award as the NCCAA’s most outstanding player. Finishing his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,696 points, Robinson’s jersey, No. 13, was retired at his last home game.
“Bill Robinson is a man of character who has distinguished himself in many ways throughout his coaching career,” said Milligan Athletic Director Ray Smith. “We expect to compete at a very high level and are confident that Coach Robinson will continue to develop and maintain the Buffaloes basketball program in a way that supports the vision and mission of Milligan College.”
Robinson and his wife, Barb, have three children.