Football
Joe Robinson
- Title:
- Special Teams
Joe Robinson, one of the most respected special teams coaches in the country, enters his second season as part of head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s staff in 2017.
Robinson, a native of nearby Abilene, Texas, returned to his roots in West Texas in 2016 to lead a Red Raider special teams unit that ranked among the top 50 teams in the country for both punt returns (39th) and blocked kick (44th). It marked the second time in the last three years where Robinson’s punt return team has ranked in the top 40 nationally.
Tech blocked a pair of field goals during the 2016 season alone – its most since 2013 – while Cameron Batson averaged 9.6 yards per punt return, the highest average for a Red Raider since 2012. Batson ended his junior year ranked 23rd nationally in punt return average.
Clayton Hatfield, meanwhile, became one of the most accurate kickers in the country under Robinson’s tutelage. The sophomore ended the year 13-of-14 overall on field goal attempts to rank fourth nationally in field-goal percentage. He was also 32nd nationally in scoring after averaging a team-high 8.7 points per game.
Robinson arrived in Lubbock following four seasons at South Carolina, the final three of which he focused solely on special teams. He previously coached tight ends as well as special teams during his first season in 2012.
In his four seasons in Columbia, Robinson, the 2010 Football Scoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year, produced several strong special teams units for a South Carolina program that recorded a pair of 11-win seasons and three bowl appearances during his tenure.
South Carolina ranked among the national leaders in several special teams categories during Robinson's final season in 2015, finishing seventh in net punting, 24th in kickoff return defense and 30th in kickoff returns. The Gamecocks previously ranked ninth nationally in 2012 for punt returns and 18th for punt return defense.
During Robinson's first year, Ace Sanders set a school record for punt return yards in a season while earning second team All-America honors and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year accolades. Pharoh Cooper also earned Freshman All-SEC honors under Robinson in 2013 as a return specialist.
Prior to joining the staff at South Carolina, Robinson spent one season as the defensive line coach at the University of North Carolina (2011) and three years coaching the defensive line and specials teams at LSU (2008-10).
Robinson earned his acclaim as a top special teams coordinator while at LSU. In 2010, LSU finished in the top 13 nationally that year in net punting, kickoff return average and punt return average en route to a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
LSU's special teams combined to rank No. 1 overall in the SEC during the 2009 season. The Tigers were also the only SEC team to rank among the top three in the conference in four special teams categories. Kick returner Trindon Holliday thrived under Robinson's watch as he led the SEC and ranked second nationally in punt returns before being selected in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
LSU benefited from six special teams touchdowns during Robinson’s tenure, five of which that were the result of a punt return. The lone exception was a 53-yard blocked field goal that was returned by Patrick Peterson against Ole Miss.
Robinson has coached a variety of position during his coaching career, including defensive line, special teams, linebackers and running backs. He also has experience as a recruiting coordinator at both Southern Miss (1992-98) and Louisiana Tech (1989-91; 2001).
This will be Robinson's second job inside the state of Texas as he spent the 2002 season at the University of Houston. He has also held coaching positions at Central Florida (2003) and Arizona (2004-07).
Robinson, a 1985 graduate of LSU, began his coaching career in the high school ranks in 1986 as an assistant coach at Catholic High School in Louisiana. He was promoted to head coach the following season and then spent the 1988 season as the defensive coordinator at Bastrop High School (La.).
Robinson and his wife, Abby, are the parents to three daughters -- Alexandra, Madeline and Valerie.
JOE ROBINSON COACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-Present: Texas Tech Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2013-15: South Carolina Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2012: South Carolina Assistant Coach (tight ends & special teams)
2011 -- North Carolina Assistant Coach (defensive line)
2008-10 -- LSU Assistant Coach (defensive line & special teams)
2004-07 -- Arizona Assistant Coach (defensive ends & special teams)
2003 -- UCF Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2002 -- Houston Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2001 -- Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (running backs/recruiting coordinator)
1996-98: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (special teams/recruiting coordinator)
1994-96: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (linebackers/recruiting coordinator)
1993: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (defensive line/recruiting coordinator)
1992: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (defensive line)
1990-91: Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (defensive line/recruiting coordinator)
1989: Louisiana Tech Graduate Assistant
1988 -- Bastrop (La.) H.S. Assistant Coach
1987 -- Catholic H.S. (La.) Head Coach
1986 -- Catholic H.S. (La.) Assistant Coach
Robinson, a native of nearby Abilene, Texas, returned to his roots in West Texas in 2016 to lead a Red Raider special teams unit that ranked among the top 50 teams in the country for both punt returns (39th) and blocked kick (44th). It marked the second time in the last three years where Robinson’s punt return team has ranked in the top 40 nationally.
Tech blocked a pair of field goals during the 2016 season alone – its most since 2013 – while Cameron Batson averaged 9.6 yards per punt return, the highest average for a Red Raider since 2012. Batson ended his junior year ranked 23rd nationally in punt return average.
Clayton Hatfield, meanwhile, became one of the most accurate kickers in the country under Robinson’s tutelage. The sophomore ended the year 13-of-14 overall on field goal attempts to rank fourth nationally in field-goal percentage. He was also 32nd nationally in scoring after averaging a team-high 8.7 points per game.
Robinson arrived in Lubbock following four seasons at South Carolina, the final three of which he focused solely on special teams. He previously coached tight ends as well as special teams during his first season in 2012.
In his four seasons in Columbia, Robinson, the 2010 Football Scoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year, produced several strong special teams units for a South Carolina program that recorded a pair of 11-win seasons and three bowl appearances during his tenure.
South Carolina ranked among the national leaders in several special teams categories during Robinson's final season in 2015, finishing seventh in net punting, 24th in kickoff return defense and 30th in kickoff returns. The Gamecocks previously ranked ninth nationally in 2012 for punt returns and 18th for punt return defense.
During Robinson's first year, Ace Sanders set a school record for punt return yards in a season while earning second team All-America honors and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year accolades. Pharoh Cooper also earned Freshman All-SEC honors under Robinson in 2013 as a return specialist.
Prior to joining the staff at South Carolina, Robinson spent one season as the defensive line coach at the University of North Carolina (2011) and three years coaching the defensive line and specials teams at LSU (2008-10).
Robinson earned his acclaim as a top special teams coordinator while at LSU. In 2010, LSU finished in the top 13 nationally that year in net punting, kickoff return average and punt return average en route to a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
LSU's special teams combined to rank No. 1 overall in the SEC during the 2009 season. The Tigers were also the only SEC team to rank among the top three in the conference in four special teams categories. Kick returner Trindon Holliday thrived under Robinson's watch as he led the SEC and ranked second nationally in punt returns before being selected in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
LSU benefited from six special teams touchdowns during Robinson’s tenure, five of which that were the result of a punt return. The lone exception was a 53-yard blocked field goal that was returned by Patrick Peterson against Ole Miss.
Robinson has coached a variety of position during his coaching career, including defensive line, special teams, linebackers and running backs. He also has experience as a recruiting coordinator at both Southern Miss (1992-98) and Louisiana Tech (1989-91; 2001).
This will be Robinson's second job inside the state of Texas as he spent the 2002 season at the University of Houston. He has also held coaching positions at Central Florida (2003) and Arizona (2004-07).
Robinson, a 1985 graduate of LSU, began his coaching career in the high school ranks in 1986 as an assistant coach at Catholic High School in Louisiana. He was promoted to head coach the following season and then spent the 1988 season as the defensive coordinator at Bastrop High School (La.).
Robinson and his wife, Abby, are the parents to three daughters -- Alexandra, Madeline and Valerie.
JOE ROBINSON COACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-Present: Texas Tech Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2013-15: South Carolina Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2012: South Carolina Assistant Coach (tight ends & special teams)
2011 -- North Carolina Assistant Coach (defensive line)
2008-10 -- LSU Assistant Coach (defensive line & special teams)
2004-07 -- Arizona Assistant Coach (defensive ends & special teams)
2003 -- UCF Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2002 -- Houston Assistant Coach (special teams coordinator)
2001 -- Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (running backs/recruiting coordinator)
1996-98: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (special teams/recruiting coordinator)
1994-96: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (linebackers/recruiting coordinator)
1993: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (defensive line/recruiting coordinator)
1992: Southern Miss Assistant Coach (defensive line)
1990-91: Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (defensive line/recruiting coordinator)
1989: Louisiana Tech Graduate Assistant
1988 -- Bastrop (La.) H.S. Assistant Coach
1987 -- Catholic H.S. (La.) Head Coach
1986 -- Catholic H.S. (La.) Assistant Coach
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