Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press wrote a fitting tribute to Detroit's Will Robinson, one of the very best. Robinson passed away this past week at the great age of 96. During our years working in Detroit, Robinson was one of the class acts and real gentlemen. He is a pro's pro.
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"Icon" is a word used liberally these days to describe an individual's contributions, but it isn't a stretch when talking of Will Robinson's impact.
Robinson died at age 96, leaving an enduring legacy that extends beyond becoming the first black Division I men's basketball coach in 1970.
His legacy is also seen in the lives of hundreds of young men, who got an opportunity at a college education because Robinson equally balanced lessons of basketball with instructions about life.
He began a 26-year career in Detroit's high schools in 1944, coaching the football and basketball teams at Miller before moving on to Cass Tech and Pershing.
Robinson also spent 28 seasons as a scout with the Pistons and 22 years as a part-time scout for the Lions.
The man we all adoringly called "Coach" always told me he considered himself a teacher more than anything else. He believed what he did was a calling, more than an occupation, because he thought there was nothing more important than having the opportunity to mold a young man's character.
Robinson produced some great players, but he spoke with even stronger pride about those becoming the first in their families to earn a college degree, using sports as a springboard for more tangible achievements.
"It's a difficult day for me," former Pistons general manager Jack McCloskey said Monday about his dear friend's passing. "He's among the top echelon of all the great basketball minds that ever existed. But it was always more than just basketball with Will. He was just as interested in a person's character. That's what made him a very valuable part of our organization."
Robinson was a Pistons scout when McCloskey became general manager in 1979. He became McCloskey's "second eyes" when evaluating talent.
"He was so competitive, and I loved that about him," McCloskey said.
He recalled a story about a college tournament both attended in Hawaii. The evening's games were over and the pair walked to a nearby restaurant. But McCloskey noticed Robinson seemed preoccupied.
Robinson had noticed one of the tournament's players was walking ahead of them.
"He chided the kid for not competing hard enough," McCloskey said. "And what's interesting is that the kid stood there and listened to every word Will told him. He didn't just dismiss him as some old guy. Everybody that knew Will or knew of him respected him. And you've got to earn that. He worked hard and went through plenty to get that respect."
Robinson coached what's considered one of the greatest high school teams in Michigan history at Pershing in 1967, a basketball team that included Ralph Simpson and Spencer Haywood.
"He taught me to be a man, not just a basketball player," Haywood said. "That was his greatest gift."
He became Isiah Thomas' mentor when the Pistons drafted him in 1981. He easily related to players more than 60 years his junior because of his open and occasionally brutal candor.
"He was frank, fair and straightforward," said Pistons vice president of basketball operations Scott Perry, a Robinson confidant. "That's what you want in a coach, but that's also what you want in a trusted adviser. That's why everybody sought his counsel."
The tributes poured in Monday from everywhere when word of Robinson's passing broke. Those who never even met him spoke of his trailblazing acts and how they laid the foundation for future opportunities.
The full extent of Robinson's legacy will be on display later this week, when the many he touched will honor his life at Saturday's funeral. It will not only be a Who's Who of Detroit basketball but also a historical timeline of basketball's evolution in this country over the last 60 years.
Contact DREW SHARP at 313-223-4055 or dsharp@freepress.com.
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