Submitted by The Evergreen State College
Olympia High School women’s basketball coach and Evergreen alum, Jackie Robinson picked to lead the Geoduck women’s basketball team for the 2019-20 season announced today by Director of Student Wellness, Recreation, and Athletics Elizabeth McHugh.
“As a celebrated player, and alum, Jackie has a connection to Evergreen, and I’m excited for his return,” said McHugh. “The talent and energy he brings are what we need right now as we rebuild our Women’s Basketball program.”
In his last eight seasons as a head coach, Robinson has compiled a 122-75 overall record and 74-36 conference record. Robinson has spent the last four seasons at Olympia High School, two of those seasons he was named Coach of the Year. His team was just one game out of regionals all four years as he compiled a 51-44 overall record and 35-25 conference record. This past season, his team finished 12-12 overall and 9-7 in conference and finished fourth overall.
I am very grateful to be home and giving back to a college and community that gave so much to me,” said Jackie Robinson. “I would like to thank the administration for giving me this opportunity to come back and coach at my alma mater. I look forward to working with the players and learning, trusting, and growing as the season goes.”
Robinson graduated from Evergreen with his Bachelors in Sports Management in 2002. He played two seasons for the Geoducks. In 2000-01, he appeared in 30 games, starting 26 and averaged 8.8 points per game. He led the team in free throw shooting that year, making 77 of 93 and was named All-Conference honorable mention. The 2001-02 season, contributed to the success of the program with the college’s first appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament, winning the Cascade Conference championships. He appeared in 33 games that season, averaging 6.7 points per game.
After graduating, Robinson spent three years playing professionally in Switzerland and Germany. After returning from overseas play, Robinson got his start as the assistant coach at Timberline High School for five seasons, and then went on to become head coach at River Ridge High School, where he compiled a 71-31 overall record and 39-11 conference record. His team made it to state three of the four years and had a best fifth-place finish one of those years. For two seasons, he was named Coach of the Year and in his first season the Hawks were named regular-season co-champs.
Robinson grew up south of Mobile, Ala., in Grand Bay. He is currently the Graduation Specialist at Olympia High School. He is married to Kelci and they have two children, Kienan and Cinaiya.
