NCAAF: Famed USC coach John Robinson dies at 89

Date:

Share post:


John Robinson, one of Southern California’s most successful and famous football coaches, died Monday at the age of 89, the school announced.

He died in Baton Rouge, La., from complications stemming from pneumonia.

Robinson compiled a 104-35-4 record over two separate tenures as head football coach at USC, winning a national championship with the Trojans in 1978. The 104 wins put him at third place in all-time wins at the school behind John McKay and Howard Jones.

Robinson never had a losing season at USC in 12 seasons. His first team, in 1976, went 11-1 and won the Rose Bowl, finishing No. 2 in the AP poll.

After a dip to 8-4 in 1977, Robinson put together a two-year run of 23-1-1 in 1978-79, winning two more Rose Bowls and a national championship as designated by the coaches’ poll in 1978.

He coached another three seasons during that first tenure, producing such noted NFL stars as Marcus Allen, Ricky Bell, Charles White, Clay Matthews and Joey Browner. Allen and White both won the Heisman Trophy while playing for Robinson.

In 1983, Robinson was handed the reins to the Los Angeles Rams and twice advanced to the NFC Championship Game in his tenure there (1983-1991), going 75-68.

The Trojans re-hired Robinson for the 1993 season. While his second stint at USC did not produce the same highs, he did earn three more bowl wins over five seasons, including wins in the Cotton Bowl and Rose Bowl.

His head coaching career wrapped in Las Vegas with UNLV, where he went 28-42 over six years.

He also became a consultant with LSU and was present for the Tigers’ national title in 2019.

Overall, Robinson finished with an 8-1 record in bowl games over 18 seasons as a head coach.

–Field Level Media

spot_img

Related articles

NCAAF: No. 24 UNLV shakes off slow start, tops San Jose State

Jai'Den Thomas ran for 135 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 24 UNLV over host San Jose...

NCAAF: Michigan State sends Purdue to 10th consecutive loss

Aidan Chiles completed 15 of 31 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns to help Michigan State earn...

NCAAF: Iowa QB Cade McNamara slams ‘ridiculous’ rumors

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara released a statement Friday slamming the "100% false" media reports that suggested he had...

NCAAF: Report: Iowa CB Jermari Harris opts out of rest of season

Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris has opted out of the remainder of the 2024 season in order to prepare...

FREE

Get the most important breaking news and analyses for Free.

Thank you for subscribing

Something went wrong.