Craig Robinson assumed the role of Executive Director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2020. An experienced administrator and coach, Robinson has over three decades of experience in these fields.
Before taking on his role with the NABC, between 2017 to 2020, Robinson served as the Vice President of Player Development and Minor League Operations for the NBA’s New York Knicks, where he also assumed the role of General Manager for the G League’s Westchester Knicks. Prior to this, he held a similar position in player and organizational development with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2016-17.
Robinson's experience also includes eight years as a head men's basketball coach. He spent two seasons at Brown University and six seasons at Oregon State University. His time at Brown was particularly successful, with Robinson winning more games in his first two years than any other head coach in the university's history. His achievements led to him being named the Ivy League Coach of the Year by basketball-u.com after the 2006-07 season.
At Oregon State, Robinson won 94 games – currently the fourth-most in program history – and led the Beavers to four postseason appearances. During his tenure, he led Oregon State to their first post-season tournament championship at the 2009 College Basketball Invitational and received an invitation to the same tournament again in 2010. However, his time with Oregon State ended in May 2014 when he was relieved of his coaching duties.
After leaving Oregon State, Robinson was hired by ESPN as a college basketball analyst. He is recognized for his deep understanding of the game and his ability to provide valuable insights.
One of the top players in Ivy League history, Robinson was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year as a men’s basketball student-athlete at Princeton University from 1979-83. He graduated with a degree in sociology and later earned an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. It is worth noting that Robinson's coaching style includes elements of the Princeton offense, emphasizing work ethic and team collaboration, a testament to his time as a player at the university.
In addition to his extensive career in basketball, Robinson held private sector executive roles for Continental Bank, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, and Loop Capital Markets during a hiatus from coaching before joining the Northwestern staff.
Born in Chicago, Robinson is married to Kelly Mccrum Robinson and they have four children. He is also known for being the brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, whom he introduced at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He was also involved in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. His memoir, "A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond," offers a unique insight into his personal and professional journey.
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