John Robinson (2009) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

John Robinson

Induction:
2009

One of USC’s most popular and successful football coaches, John Robinson guided the Trojans to the 1978 national championship and into 8 bowl games. He won 74.1% of his games while compiling a 104-35-4 record during 2 coaching stints spread over 12 years at Troy (1976-82 and 1993-97), recording more victories than any USC gridiron coach except John McKay and Howard Jones. He produced 24 All-American first teamers, 22 NFL first rounders, 2 Heisman Trophy winners and a Lombardi Award winner at USC. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2004, based on his 4-0 record in the Pasadena classic. He twice was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1976 and 1978). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. After spending 12 years (1960-71) as an assistant at Oregon, his alma mater, he became a Trojan assistant for 3 seasons (1972-74) as Troy won a pair of national crowns. He also served as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams (1983-91), twice advancing to the NFC title game, and at UNLV (1999-2004), and was an assistant with the Oakland Raiders in 1975. He came out of retirement to serve as defensive coordinator at San Marcos High School and a senior consultant at LSU (including with its 2019 national championship team). He was inducted into the Las Vegas Bowl Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2018. He then was an analyst on college football national radio broadcasts and a development officer with the USC athletic department. He died on Nov. 11, 2024, at age 89.