Coach John Robinson, a 2009 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who headed programs at Southern California and UNLV, passed away Nov. 11 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of complications from pneumonia. He was 89.
“Coach John Robinson was a remarkable leader whose legacy on the field as one of college football’s winningest coaches is only matched by the impact he had on his players and the assistant coaches he mentored,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “John was the epitome of strength, kindness, and integrity, and his legacy will remain forever enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time of loss.”
Robinson amassed a 104–35–4 record during two coaching stints at USC (1976-82 and 1993-97) and a 28-42 record at UNLV from 1999-2004, winning 61.9% of his games as a head coach. He ranks third among USC coaches for wins behind only Hall of Fame coaches John McKay and Howard Jones, and he ranks second at UNLV.
In 1978, Robinson led Southern California to a 12-1 record and the UPI National Championship after winning the Rose Bowl.
During his tenure as Trojan head coach, Robinson led Southern California to five Pac-10 titles during two separate coaching stints (1976-82; 1993-97). His Trojans made eight bowl appearances, posting a 7-1 record with four Rose Bowl victories.
He received National Coach of the Year honors in 1979 and was twice named Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1976, 1978).
During his time at Southern California, he coached six College Football Hall of Fame inductees, including Marcus Allen, Ricky Bell, Tony Boselli, Brad Budde, Ronnie Lott and Charles White. He produced two Heisman Trophy winners (Charles White and Marcus Allen), a Lombardi Award winner (Brad Budde), 24 First Team All-Americans and 22 NFL first rounders at USC. He also coached five NFF National Scholar-Athletes: Gary Bethel, Boselli, Jeremy Hogue, Matt Keneley and Paul McDonald at USC.
Hired by UNLV in 1999, Robinson led the Rebels to an 8-5 record in 2000, earning him Mountain West Coach of the Year honors. The season concluded with a memorable 31-14 victory over Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. The victory over the Razorbacks gave Robinson the best winning percentage (.888) in NCAA bowl history at the time for anyone with at least eight appearances (8-1). Robinson also served as UNLV’s Director of Athletics in 2002-03.
Robinson began his coaching career as an assistant at Oregon, his alma mater, from 1960-71, including a stint under Hall of Fame coach Len Casanova. He joined the Trojans as an assistant from 1972-74 for John McKay, helping USC win a pair of national crowns.
He also served as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams (1983-91), twice advancing to the NFC title game and was an assistant with the Oakland Raiders in 1975.
After coaching, he did analysis on college football national radio broadcasts and was a development officer with the USC athletic department. He also served as a senior consultant with the LSU football program when the Tigers won the national title in 2019.
Robinson was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2004, the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, the Las Vegas Bowl Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2018.
Robinson is survived by his wife Beverly, his four children (daughters Terry Medina and Lynne Sierra and sons David and Chris) and two stepchildren (Jennifer Bohle and Jeffrey Ezell) and 10 grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held following this college football season.
