Franklin & Marshall College men’s basketball coach Glenn Robinson may be quick to downplay Saturday’s 57-54 defeat of Centennial-rival Swarthmore as just another win, even though it puts him in an exclusive club. Already the most victorious coach in NCAA Division III history, with the victory Robinson joins Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Philadelphia University’s Herb Magee and former Indiana University general Bob Knight as the only coaches to win 900 or more NCAA games.
For Robinson, the wins are a testament to the great players, assistant coaches and members from the F&M community he has been fortunate enough to work with over his 45 years at the helm of the Diplomats men’s basketball program. After all, he has not been the one to score a point or collect a rebound in the last four-and-half decades.
The road to 900 did not get off to a great start back in 1971. As a young 25-year-old, Robinson was charged with the task of rebuilding an F&M program that previously went through seven consecutive losing seasons. It took only three years to turn the program around with a 13-11 mark in 1974, the programs’ best record since a 13-6 performance in 1959. Robinson went on to set the school mark in 1976 with a 17-8 record. He broke it again in 1977, notching 22 wins, and in 1979 raised the standard once more with 27. In 1991, his team triumphed 28 times, and in 1996 recorded a still all-time-best 29 victories.
Robinson’s résumé of accomplishments will allow him to stand out among some of the greatest to ever coach the game at any level. The list includes:
- 12- time National Association of Basketball Coaches Region Coach of the Year
- 12- time Conference Coach of the Year
- 1991 Basketball Times Division III Coach of the Year
- 2009 D3Hoops.com Coach of the Year
- 93 Postseason victories
- 42 NCAA Tournament victories
- 26 seasons with 20 or more wins
- 23 NCAA DIII Tournament Appearances
- 16 trips to the Sweet 16
- 10 trips to the Elite Eight
- 5 trips to the Final Four
- One NCAA title game appearance
- 25 players selected for All-American honors
However, the most important accomplishment for Robinson is that all but three players to earn a varsity letter in basketball have earned a degree, a statistic of which few, if any, other college in the nation can boast.
The only milestone on Robinson’s mind now is win number 901. And after that 902, and so on. He will continue to focus on one game at a time; like he has done in preparation for all the previous 1,229 contests. Only long after he has hung up his whistle will he sit back to reflect on everything he has accomplished in his career.
http://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-baskbl/2015-16/releases/20160108vg3k90
Photo Courtesy F&M Athletics
