Eddie Robinson (football coach)
Eddie Gay Robinson (
not short for Edward) (born
February 13,
1919 in
Jackson, Louisiana) spent 56 years as the head
college football coach at
Grambling State University from
1942 until
1997. He was affectionately known as simply "Coach" throughout college football. During his tenure, he established himself as the winningest coach in college football history becoming the first coach to record 400 wins. (408 wins, 165 losses, 15 ties) Even during the era of
segregation in the
American South, his talent was praised by and influential upon many
white coaches.
Robinson graduated from
McKinley Senior High School in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1937. He went on to earn his
Bachelor's Degree from
Leland College in
Baker, Louisiana, then went on to obtain his
Masters Degree from the
University of Iowa in
1954.
More than 200 of his players went on to play in the
National Football League including
Super Bowl XXII MVP
quarterback Doug Williams, who would ultimately succeed Robinson as Grambling's head coach in
1998 following Robinson's retirement.
After several losing seasons in the
1990s, pressure was mounting for Robinson to resign. In
1997, as news escaped that Grambling was planning to dismiss him, public outcry â€" including condemnation from
Louisiana elected officials â€" led Grambling to retain Robinson's services through the remainder of the season.
The Football Writers of America "Coach of the Year" award is named after Coach Robinson. Grambling also named their football stadium the
Eddie Robinson Stadium.
Robinson is a member of
Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate
Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.
Robinson lives in
Grambling, Louisiana with his wife of 64 years, Doris. They have 2 children, 5 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. While some media has reported that Coach Robinson suffers from
Alzheimer's disease, he has never been diagnosed by his doctors as having the disease.
*
Southwest Athletic Conference Page on Coach Robinson
