Michael Robinson

  Head Volleyball Coach
  Alma Mater: Mars Hill, 2000
  E-mail: mrobinson@tusculum.edu
  Office Phone: (423) 636-7328

Michael Robinson is entering his third season at the helm of the Tusculum College volleyball program. Robinson took over the program in spring of 2008, becoming the seventh head coach in the history of volleyball at Tennessee’s oldest college.

Robinson's first year was a successful one as the Pioneers posted a 22-11 record, while earning the program its first NCAA Division II regional ranking. He mentored one All-South Atlantic Conference performer (Katie Luebke), while two of his rookies were selected to the SAC All-Freshman Team (Carly Swisher, Peyton Colclough).

In his inaugural season as head coach, the Pioneers opened winning six of their first eight matches, including Robinson's first-ever collegiate victory against Belmont Abbey College on Aug. 30, 2008. He led TC to a seven-match winning streak as the squad finished fourth in the conference.

He posted his second straight winning season for the Pioneers in 2009 as his squad went 18-15 as he guided Tusculum to the program's first-ever NCAA II Tournament appearance. He mentored All-SAC honoree Gina Coffaro and SAC All-Freshman standouts, Sam Underwood and Bailee Price.

His 40-26 record gives him a .606 winning percentage, which is the fifth-best in school history.

Prior to assuming the head coaching duties, Robinson served the previous three years as an assistant at Tusculum. From 2006-07, Robinson 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.