Tusculum College
Volleyball Coaching Staff
MICHAEL
ROBINSON
Head Coach
(Email Coach Robinson)
Michael
Robinson has been named the new head coach of the Tusculum College volleyball
program announced Director of Athletics Frankie DeBusk.
Robinson becomes the seventh head coach in the 25-year history of volleyball
at Tennessee’s oldest college.
Robinson,
who has served the last three seasons on the Pioneer coaching staff, takes over
the reigns of the program, following the resignation of Nathan Baker, who accepted
the head coaching position at the University of West Alabama.
Over
the past two years, Robinson has helped the program to a 48-20 record, including
a 20-8 mark in the South Atlantic Conference.
In 2006, TC posted a 23-10 showing, a 14-win improvement from the previous
season. TC also posted a 9-5 SAC record to finish fourth
in the league.
But
it was in 2007 that the Pioneers showed the most improvement going 25-10, while
establishing a new school record for SAC wins in a season (11).
Tusculum went 11-3 in league play, while finishing second in the conference,
its best ever finish since joining the SAC in 1998. TC ranked second in the nation in blocks per
game and ninth in team hitting percentage.
That
squad boasted the 2007 SAC Player of the Year in Vivian Lacy, who became the
first Tusculum volleyball player to garner NCAA Division II All-America distinction.
Lacy was named the SAC Player of the Year, while Alexis Rowles
was tabbed the SAC Scholar Athlete for volleyball.
On the 2007 squad alone, four players earned All-SAC recognition, including:
Lacy, Kelsey Hayden, Katie Luebke and Mariana Rezende.
While
at Tusculum, Robinson’s teams have excelled off the volleyball court, earning
the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award.
Robinson,
a native of Green Mountain, N.C., came to the Greeneville campus after serving
as head volleyball coach at T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville, N.C. in
2004.
Prior
to 2004, Robinson coached six years at South Atlantic Conference member Mars
Hill College. He served as a student assistant with the Lady Lions from 1998-2000
and as an assistant coach from 2001-03. During his tenure, Mars Hill boasted
six All-Conference honorees, including 1998 SAC Player of the Year Nicole Silver
and 2001 SAC Freshman of the Year Sarah Nash.
While
at Mars Hill, he assisted with all operations of the volleyball program, including
scouting, filming, weight training, conditioning and practice coordination.
The
1998 MHC squad posted a 32-6 overall record while capturing the South Atlantic
Conference championship and the SAC Tournament title. The team tied for fifth
in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region, while Silver led the nation in digs,
averaging six per game.
Robinson
is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and is active within
the organization, serving on the AVCA Assistant Coaches Committee.