Robinson, Eddie

Robinson, Eddie (Edward Gay Robinson), 1919–2007, African-American football coach, b. Jackson, La., grad. Leland College, Baker, La. (B.A., 1941), Univ. of Iowa (M.A., 1954). A college quarterback, Robinson was hired upon his graduation by Grambling State Univ. (then the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute and later Grambling State College) as a coach and teacher. He later made sports history as the celebrated leader of the Grambling Tigers. In 1985 he broke the record set by Bear Bryant as collegiate football's "winningest" coach (a record Robinson no longer holds), and in 1995 he became the first coach to win 400 games. During his career, more than 200 Grambling players went on to play in the National Football League. At his retirement (1997), Robinson had a record of 408 wins, 165 losses, and 15 ties.

Bibliography

See his autobiography (1999); O. K. Davis, Grambling's Gridiron Glory (1985); A. Wash and P. Webb, ed., Reflections of a Legend: Coach Eddie G. Robinson (1997).

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Robinson, (Edward Gay) Eddie (1919–  ) football coach; born in Jackson, La. After graduation from college and working at a feed mill, he realized his boyhood ambition by becoming head football coach at Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute (1941) (since renamed Grambling State University). Henceforth he guided the Tigers to fame, sending over 300 players to professional football camps, compiling the all-time best record as a college football coach and winning numerous awards.