Former Oregon State Basketball Coach Craig Robinson Named NABC Executive Director

Craig Robinson has held a lot of titles in his life.

For a time in his coaching career, he was the head basketball coach at both Brown and Oregon State. To television and media commentators, he was also usually noted as the brother of former first lady Michelle Obama. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Player Development and Minor League Operations for the New York Knicks organizations.

And now, the fifty-eight year old Robinson has found another new title, as he was named the Executive Director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on Monday.

Robinson steps into the role that has been occupied since 1992 by one-time Oregon head coach Jim Haney. He will guide an organization that currently plays a massive role in the decision making of college basketball, including working with TCU head basketball coach Jamie Dixon, current NABC President, to address one of the sport’s most challenging off-seasons.

Dixon commented on the hiring of Robinson, stating “Craig’s experiences as a decorated student-athlete, an accomplished coach and a high-level administrator uniquely position him to lead our association during this crucial moment in time for basketball. Given his background, education and values, we have exceeded expectations from when we started the search.”

The goal of the NABC is to essentially protect the integrity of the game of basketball by working to serve the sport’s best interests. The pillars of the organization according to their mission statement are “integrity, sportsmanship and teamwork among men’s basketball coaches and the players whom they coach”. They also serve to “work with the legislative arm of the NCAA on issues that affect basketball and intercollegiate athletics, in particular identifying issues that not only benefit the student-athlete but also the ability of the coaching staff to work effectively and beneficially within the institution.”

Robinson led the Beavers program from 2008-2014, compiling a 93-104 overall record and a 39–69 mark in conference play. He took Oregon State to four CBI appearances, including a CBI Championship in 2009, but was fired following the 2014 campaign.