Don Robbins

Don Robbins
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born c. 1934 (age 80–81)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater Texas A&M University
B.S., M.Ed.[1]
Playing career
1953–55 Texas A&M
Position(s) End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
196x–65
1966–67
1968–69
1970–73
1976-?		 Big Spring HS (TX)
UTEP - (assistant)
Idaho - (assistant)
Idaho
Big Spring HS (TX)
Head coaching record
Overall 20–24 (.455)

Statistics

Donald Roy "Don" Robbins[1] (born c. 1934) is a former American college football coach, the head coach at the University of Idaho from 1970 to 1973.

Playing career

Robbins was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up primarily in Breckenridge. He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1952, where his father Cooper was the head football coach for seven seasons (1945–51). Cooper became the freshman football coach at Texas A&M in 1952, and son Don played for him that first season. Following his sophomore season, Paul "Bear" Bryant was hired as the head coach at A&M and Robbins was a member of the Junction Boys as a junior end in September 1954. Robbins graduated in 1956 and later earned a master's degree in education from A&M.

Coaching career

Following coaching at Big Spring High School, Robbins became a college assistant coach in 1966 at UTEP under head coach Bobby Dobbs.[2] After two seasons in El Paso, he was hired as an assistant at Idaho in April 1968, under first-year head coach Y C McNease.[3][4] When McNease was dismissed after spring drills in May 1970,[5][6] Robbins was promoted to head coach of the Vandals.[7] His 1971 team had the best record (8-3) in the history of the school, but the next two seasons were less successful and he was dismissed in November 1973.[8][9][10] He was succeeded by Ed Troxel, an assistant under Robbins and his two predecessors and the head track coach.[11]

Robbins returned to Big Spring High School as head coach and athletic director in 1976.[12]

College head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Idaho Vandals (Big Sky) (1970–1973)
1970 Idaho 4–7 2–2 5th
1971 Idaho 8–3 4–1 1st
1972 Idaho 4–7 2–3 5th
1973 Idaho 4–7 3–2 3rd
Idaho: 20–24 11–8
Total: 20–24
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 academics.utep.edu - UTEP 1967-68 academic catalog - p.15
  2. ↑ Game day program - UTEP at Utah - 1967-11-25 - p.12
  3. ↑ Donald Robbins joins Vandals' football staff Lewiston Morning Tribune 1968-04-03 - p.12
  4. ↑ Idaho hires Don Robbins from UTEP Spokesman Review Associated Press - 1968-04-03 - p.17
  5. ↑ Idaho officials debating possible coaching change Lewiston Morning Tribune - 1970-05-09 - p.12
  6. ↑ McNease fired from Vandal football coaching job Lewiston Morning Tribune 1970-05-16 - p.12
  7. ↑ Robbins to replace McNease at Idaho Tri-City Herald Associated Press - 1970-05-17 - p.38
  8. ↑ Board demands Robbins resign or be fired Lewiston Morning Tribune 1973-11-30 - p.19
  9. ↑ Robbins bitter as Idaho prepares for dismissal Spokane Daily Chronicle - 1973-11-30 - p.17
  10. ↑ Don unloads...Knecht next?...football out? Lewiston Tribune - 1973-12-01 - p.15
  11. ↑ 'Trox' changes mind, accepts Vandal grid challenge Lewiston Morning Tribune 1973-12-20 - p.17
  12. ↑ .e-yearbook.com - Big Spring High School - El Rodeo yearbook - 1977 - p.177