North Carolina State University Athletics
Robinson Steps Down to Become New AD at The Citadel
7/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
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Robinson, who guided The Citadel to unparalleled success on the basketball court between 1975-'85, is returning to the Charleston, South Carolina campus to take over as athletics director. He succeeds Walt Nadzak who retired last month.
Robinson's appointment was unanimously endorsed by The Citadel's Board of Visitors at a called meeting Friday morning. In making the announcement school president, General John S. Grinalds, praised Robinson as the ideal person to lead The Citadel's athletic programs. "He has the character and the competency to add greatly to Citadel athletics," the president said.
"I am very excited about this opportunity," Robinson said. "The Citadel has always had a warm place in my heart. Over the years, I've remained very close to The Citadel family and many of the alumni. One of the toughest decisions I ever made was to leave The Citadel as men's basketball coach. Everyone has made me feel very comfortable in this process and I'm thankful for the opportunity. The Citadel is a very special place."
In his ten-year coaching tenure with the Bulldogs, Robinson won a school record 132 games. His 1979 club set a school mark for victories in a season when it posted a 20-7 record. Prior to being named head coach, Robinson was a Citadel assistant for five years.
The Charleston, West Virginia native began his association with NC State in 1961, when he was the captain and leading scorer for the Wolfpack freshman basketball squad under legendary coach Everett Case. He earned two varsity letters with the Pack in 1963 and 1964, and spent the 1965 season working as a student assistant coach. Robinson became a regular assistant for the Wolfpack in 1966.
He stepped down at the Citadel in 1975 to become the new head coach at East Tennessee State. The Buccaneers flourished under Robinson, winning two Southern Conference championships and making two NCAA Tournament appearances.
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Under Robinson's watch, the cumulative grade-point averages of Wolfpack student athletes exceeded that of the general student body. The Robinson era also produced plans for exciting new renovations to Carter-Finley Stadium, along with other improved athletic facilities on campus.
"NC State owes a dept of gratitude to Les Robinson, not only for athletic achievements, but also for the academic excellence he demanded, and got, from our student athletes" said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. "His experience as a player, a coach, and an administrator has helped the Wolfpack athletic program make strides on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community. He is loved and admired in the NC State family, and will be greatly missed."
Said Robinson: "It's been a great decade for me at NC State. I feel that we have accomplished the assignment that was given and I hope I have helped build a solid foundation for the future of Wolfpack athletics. I'll never forget the letter that Todd Turner wrote me right after I was hired as basketball coach, congratulating me. In the letter, he wrote, 'As you can tell from your press conference, they're expecting an academic miracle.' I didn't pay much attention to that particular sentence at the time, but it took on a much more significant meaning as the years progressed.
"During my years as head coach, we made great strides. We didn't win as many games as people may have liked or as I would have liked, but we had an agenda that wasn't just about winning basketball games. We had to work through the process of gaining the trust of the faculty and establishing ourselves academically. I think we accomplished that, culminating with Todd Fuller being named the number-one student-athlete in America, representing all schools and all sports. Also, our efforts helped NC State gain acceptance into the National Phi Beta Kappa chapter, which was the university's number-one goal for the decade of the nineties.
"As athletic director, my mission was to bring the Wolfpack family together. Based on Wolfpack Club giving, our endowment program, ticket sales and overall enthusiasm, I think I've exceeded that goal. I've always thought that administratively, it was important to look toward the future, and many of the investments we've made are paying dividends now."
