John Robinson, a College Football Hall of Fame coach at USC who late in his career tried to revive UNLV’s flagging program, died Monday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, due to complications from pneumonia. He was 89.
Robinson, most known for two stints with USC and one with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, coached the Rebels from 1999 to 2004, going 28-42.
“Probably the biggest thing I regret is we didn’t win a lot of close games,” Robinson once said.
His most successful season at UNLV occurred in 2000 when the Rebels went 8-5, including a 31-14 victory over Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl. It would be the Rebels’ last winning season and bowl appearance until 2013.
Robinson had other notable moments at UNLV, such as beating rival UNR five times in a row, winning twice at BYU and shocking No. 14 Wisconsin 23-5 in 2003 on the road.
“Football lost a legend today,” UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said in a statement. “Coach Robinson was revered by his players, peers, fans and co-workers. He led a wonderful life on and off the football field at so many places, including here at UNLV as both a coach and administrator. Our thoughts and prayers go out to John’s family as we remember all that he did for the sport nationally and right here in Las Vegas.”
Some bizarre moments also occurred under Robinson. In his second game at UNLV, on Sept. 11, 1999, he watched Baylor try to run up the score, but the Rebels forced a fumble on the game’s final play that Kevin Thomas returned 100 yards for a touchdown and 27-24 victory.
“The game was over if (Baylor) chose it to be over, and they tried to run an additional play,” Robinson once said. “That should be the film clip for every coach to remind you not to screw it up.”
Robinson also was on the sideline in 2002 when the lights went out in the fourth quarter of a home game against Wisconsin, leading to a number of conspiracy theories because the game did not last long enough to be considered official by Nevada’s sportsbooks.
That same season, assistant head coach John Jackson left Sam Boyd Stadium with three minutes left in regulation against Wyoming to help promote a boxing match. UNLV led by eight points at the time, but Wyoming forced overtime. The Rebels eventually won 49-48.
And Robinson, of course, was the coach at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
His hire after the 1998 season made big news, and it brought a sense of legitimacy to a program known as among the country’s worst. The Rebels were coming off an 0-11 season, and had won just six games since their previous winning season or bowl appearance, in 1994.
“We were pretty much at rock bottom,” Robinson once said.
Robinson brought a buzz to the program, and he also was the catalyst behind some substantial changes. UNLV spent $18 million upgrading the stadium, and thanks to a $1 million donation installed synthetic grass on the practice fields.
His impact also was felt beyond the football program. Robinson was UNLV’s athletic director in 2002 and 2003. During his 17-month term, Robinson dealt with personal issues that included suffering a mild heart attack and coping with his then-wife Linda’s breast cancer.
Though Las Vegans will remember Robinson largely for the time he spent at UNLV, he is most known nationally for what he accomplished at USC and with the Rams.
Robinson went 104-35-4 at USC from 1976 to 1982 and from 1993 to 1997. He coached the Trojans to the 1978 national championship, won five Pacific-10 Conference titles and had three Rose Bowl victories. Robinson was selected in 2009 to the College Football Hall of Fame.
“Our relationship was a father-son-type relationship,” former USC and NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson once said. “I’ve known him since I was 6-years-old, and I can talk to him about pretty much anything.”
With the Rams from 1983 to 1991, Robinson went 79-74 with two appearances in the NFC Championship game.
He ended his coaching career by joining LSU’s staff in 2019 as a consultant. The Tigers won the national championship that season.
UNLV said a celebration of life will be held after the college football season, according to Robinson’s wishes. He is survived by his wife Beverly, his four children and his 10 grandchildren.
