J Robinson signs multi-year contract

MINNEAPOLIS (January 19, 2011) — After serving 25 years as the head coach of one of the nation’s top wrestling programs, there have been plenty of firsts for Minnesota’s J Robinson. A quarter century of success has seen first All-Americans, first national champions and undefeated seasons under the Gophers’ coach. This week, Robinson added another first to his list of coaching accolades.

Director of Athletics Joel Maturi announced today that Robinson has signed the first multi-year contract of his career, keeping the two-time national coach of the year and six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year at Minnesota through 2014.
“I could not be more pleased that we have been able to reach this agreement with J,” Maturi said. “This multi-year contract is a just reward for a job well done and we are thrilled to have an individual who is widely considered to be among the finest wrestling coaches ever committed to our program through 2014.”

Robinson, who was named the seventh coach in Minnesota history when he took over in 1986, brought the storied program to new heights by developing a culture of excellence. Under Robinson, Minnesota captured the first three wrestling national championships in school history (2001, 2002, 2007) while he has helped develop 12 individual national champions. After working on a year-by-year basis for his first 25 years at Minnesota, Robinson recently decided the time was right to ink the first long-term contract of his career.

“Joel and I had been talking about (the contract) for a couple of years, and we got together to work out some of the
details,” Robinson said. “It seemed to work out, and it seemed to be a good time to do it.”

A 2005 inductee into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Robinson has coached 46 individuals to a total of 97 All-American honors, including an NCAA record 10 All-Americans during Minnesota’s first national title campaign in 2001. Robinson’s teams have also earned six Big Ten team championships and 27 individual conference titles during his tenure, while his 354 career dual wins are the most among active Big Ten coaches.