Will Robinson

William J. Robinson (June 3, 1911 – April 28, 2008) was an American college basketball coach and scout. Robinson became the first African-American head coach in NCAA Division I history when he accepted the position at Illinois State University in 1970. He scouted for the Detroit Pistons for 28 years, and worked 22 years for the Detroit Lions as a part-time scout. Robinson also lettered in four sports at West Virginia State University, graduating in 1937. and won a second state title in 1970. He also coached Mel Daniels, Big Daddy Lipscomb and Ted Sizemore at the high school level. During his high school coaching career Robinson enabled more than 300 students to attend college, and organized coaching clinics for black coaches in the south, recruiting staff members of the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers to provide instruction. As a result of his efforts at the coaching clinics, Lions coach Buddy Parker hired Robinson as the first black scout in the NFL. As a scout Robinson discovered Pro Football Hall of Famers Charlie Sanders and Lem Barney.

In 1970 Robinson was hired as the head coach at Illinois State University, making him the first black head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. He compiled a record of 78-51 from 1970 to 1975 (see Illinois State Redbirds Men's Basketball Season-By-Season Records). His best player during that time was Doug Collins, the school's only consensus All-American and the #1 pick in the 1973 NBA draft. In 2003 Robinson received a lifetime achievement award from the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Pistons era Will Robinson retired from Illinois State in 1975, and accepted a position as a scout for the Detroit Pistons in 1976. Robinson was responsible for discovering Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, key members of the Pistons' championship teams in 1989 and 1990.