In addition to football, Robinson coached basketball and track, for boys and girls. 'He wanted to help everyone get to the next level.' 'It didn't matter whether you were white or Black, rich or poor,' said Najarian, a well-known TV personality and investment adviser. Pete Najarian, who played football at Central along with his three brothers, said Robinson was an 'incredible influence,' both in the classroom and on the playing field. His teaching career began in 1960 at the Hennepin County Home School, and he became the head football coach at Central in 1972. He attended Central High School and was the only member of his family to go to college, graduating from Augsburg in 1959. He was 87.īorn in Minneapolis, Robinson was one of six children. Robinson died April 26 of congestive heart failure. He was the second Black football coach to receive the honor. Robinson was belatedly inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021, 23 years after he retired as North High School's athletic director. 'There is no way I would have been in the college football hall of fame without Richard Robinson,' said Michael Favor, a former standout at North Dakota State University who is now superintendent of Intermediate School District 917 in Rosemount.

Another former player, who spent a lot of time in the principal's office before Robinson's arrival, is now a school superintendent. One of his football players, who was arrested for stealing a car at the age of 17, is now a referee in the National Football League.

Richard Robinson didn't have the most wins among high school football coaches, but his extraordinary commitment to his players helped him become one of the most successful leaders to ever work in Minneapolis Public Schools.

Izakaya by Mark Robinson