July 30, 2003
Bobby Robinson, the former Director of Athletics at Clemson University, has joined the Georgia Tech staff as Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Yellow Jacket Director of Athletics Dave Braine announced Wednesday.
Robinson will oversee facilities and game operations, taking over for Sterling Brown, who will retire Sept. 1 after six years at Tech.
Robinson spent 17 years as Clemson’s Director of Athletics, serving from 1985 until stepping down on June 30, 2002.
“Bobby Robinson is one of the most highly respected individuals in college athletics, and we are very fortunate to be able to bring him on board,” said Braine. “I got to know him very well during his time at Clemson, where he did an outstanding job for so many years. With his experience and knowledge, he will be a tremendous asset to Georgia Tech.”
During his time at Director of Athletics, the Tigers won 56 Atlantic Coast Conference team titles as well as the 1987 NCAA championship in men’s soccer, and Clemson student-athletes captured 24 individual national titles and over 400 all-America citations. The Clemson football team went to a bowl game in 14 of his 17 years, and the men’s basketball program advanced to postseason play 12 of 17 years.
Over his career, 16 of the 19 Tiger sports programs had at least one final top 10 national ranking, and Clemson finished in the top 30 of the national all-sports rankings in nine of Robinson’s 17 years.
Tiger student-athletes also made great strides academically during Robinson’s tenure, thanks in large part to the construction of Vickery Hall, Clemson’s student-athlete enrichment center. In addition to that facility, Robinson also launched an $82 million fundraising project to enhance all of Clemson’s athletics facilities, including Clemson Memorial Stadium and Littlejohn Coliseum.
Robinson first went to Clemson in 1970, working in the housing office until moving to the athletics department three years later. After serving the athletics department in various capacities, he was named business manager in 1975. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 1977 and then associate athletic director in 1980. He served in that capacity until being named Director of Athletics in March of 1985.
Along with his administrative duties, Robinson served as Clemson’s golf coach from 1974-83, guiding the Tigers to one ACC title and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
A native of Columbia, S.C., Robinson was honored by the State of South Carolina with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor a resident of the state can receive, and in 2002, he was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame.
Robinson earned a bachelor of arts degree in business and political science from Furman in 1968.
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