Greg Robinson, San Jose State University football's defensive coordinator during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, passed away at age 70 on January 5. Syracuse University where he was the head coach during the 2005 through 2008 seasons, reported Mr. Robinson's passing.
The Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator during the team's Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII victories in 1998 and 1999 joined the Spartans' coaching staff in February 2014 as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
"I liked the idea of being able to give back. I was a walk-on player who basically earned a scholarship. From the minute I decided to become a coach, I always believed in my mind that in the coaching world, I was gonna be that scholarship guy," Robinson said in a 2004 interview for texassports.com. "I had the talent, and so I decided I was going to give it a go. And you know what? I never looked back."
"You learn so much in the game of football about yourself -- in those quiet moments that only you could know. That's why I got into coaching, because I could see that I could inspire people. I knew I was intelligent enough to learn the game. I liked the thought of getting to coach young people. I knew I could do it, and do it well."
HIS SAN JOSE STATE DAYS
San Jose State's defense was formidable in each of his two seasons. The Spartans limited opponents to less than 400 yards of total offense a game in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1990 and 1991. Nationally, San Jose State was 32nd in total defense and 12th in team passing efficiency defense in 2014. In 2015, the Spartans were 34th in total defense and second in passing yards allowed.
San Jose State won the AutoNation Cure Bowl in 2015, his final game as a coach defeating Georgia State, 27-16, and was carried off the field after the victory.
Mr. Robinson coached in 11 bowl games and was on the winning side nine times. In an NFL career that included positions with the New York Jets (1990-94), Denver Broncos (1995-2000), and Kansas City Chiefs (2001-03), he coached on teams that qualified for American Football Conference post-season in six seasons.
"Schematically, he knew exactly what he wanted to run. The players really enjoyed him and he had a real command of what he wanted to teach and what he was doing," said current San Jose State University football staff analyst Fred Guidici, who was the special teams coordinator on the 2014 Spartan staff. "He did a great job and was respected by the players and coaches around him."
A LONG & ACCOMPLISHED COACHING CAREER
The Los Angeles, Calif., native was a 1975 graduate of the University of the Pacific and played linebacker on the 1972 through 1974 Tiger teams. He began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1975 and was an assistant at Cal State Fullerton (1977-79), North Carolina State (1980-81) and UCLA (1982-89) before going to the NFL.
After his stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, Mr. Robinson returned to the college game in 2004 working a season at Texas before taking on the Syracuse head coaching position. He was Michigan's defensive coordinator (2009-10) and returned to Texas (2013) before concluding his coaching career with the Spartans.
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