J Robinson has done it all. The former Army Ranger wrestled at Oklahoma State before making the 1972 Greco Olympic team. From there, he joined Dan Gable at the University of Iowa where they built a wrestling dynasty. Robinson and Gable parted ways after the 1984 season and Robinson resurfaced at Minnesota where he led the Golden Gophers to three NCAA team titles (2001-02, 2007), including the 2001 team that had 10 All-Americans. Watch video from the J Robinson Roast at flowrestling.org →
J Robinson
You are invited to The JROB Roast!
Minnesota wrestling fans are invited to attend a celebration of the career of former University of Minnesota wrestling coach J Robinson. The event is scheduled to take place on June 25th at Tattersall Distillery in River Falls, Wisc.
The unofficial sendoff/retirement party is open to the public and will feature several prominent “roasters” from the wrestling community.
Gopher Wrestling to host a weekend of celebration
Gopher Wrestling is celebrating the legendary career of Coach J Robinson, the 2001 and 2002 national championship teams, and Gopher alumni with “Championship Weekend” on January 14, 15, and 16.
Robinson served as Minnesota’s head coach for 30 seasons dating from 1986-2016, leading The Gophers to a 437-134-4 record, 11 Big Ten titles, and three NCAA championships during his tenure.
Seven Minutes with J Robinson
Seven Minutes is a series of interviews with top wrestling coaches and athletes. Most of the question-and-answer sessions last roughly seven minutes. Hence the name. J Robinson coached the University of Minnesota to three NCAA championships, including the 2001 team that had 10 All-Americans. The former Army Ranger was a 1972 Olympian in Greco-Roman and is the founder of J Robinson Camps.
If you could take what you know now and have a conversation with yourself at the age of 15, what advice would you give yourself?
I would give myself the advice of trying to find a philosophy that I could buy into that would help me get to the level I wanted to get into. Having someone give me a path and say this is what you need to get there so I had a clear way to get to where I wanted to go.
Let’s go back to when you were in high school. What do you remember about the recruiting process, if there was any, and why did you pick Oklahoma State being from California?
I graduated in 1964 so there wasn’t any recruiting per se in the state of California. I got a couple letters from California schools that asked me to come there and wrestle. My high school coach was Ned Blass who was a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State. He came in my senior year and he’s one of those people who opens your eyes and will say, ‘The world is bigger than California and it’s bigger than San Diego.’ He basically said you’re good enough to go here and he basically sent me to Oklahoma State. I went and I was lucky enough to have someone to direct me in the path I needed to go. I was willing to go — I just didn’t know where to go. I think that’s the way it is for a lot of young people. Listen/Continue reading at trackwrestling.com
Bison Wrestling Club Coaches Clinic Moved to Thursday, Oct. 18
FARGO, N.D. – Due to an overwhelming positive response, the Bison Wrestling Club Coaches Clinic has been moved to Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. The clinic features legendary former University of Minnesota head wrestling coach J Robinson as the keynote speaker.
Cost of the clinic is $100 for the first coach, $75 for each additional coach per high school. Register before Oct. 1 when the price increases to $150 first coach / $125 for each additional. Cost includes lunch, dinner and an evening social.
Former Minnesota Coach J Robinson Keynote Speaker at Bison Wrestling Club Coaches Clinic
FARGO, N.D. – Legendary former University of Minnesota head wrestling coach J Robinson is the keynote speaker at the Bison Wrestling Club Coaches Clinic scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.
Cost of the clinic is $100 for the first coach, $75 for each additional coach per high school. Register before Oct. 1 when the price increases to $150 first coach / $125 for each additional. Cost includes lunch, dinner and an evening social.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter Inducts 9
On Saturday, April 21st the NWHOF Minnesota Chapter held their 16th annual ceremony and inducted nine distinguished members who have contributed significantly to Minnesota Wrestling. The Awards Ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn Austin, Minn.
Inductees/honorees were Tim Penny as Outstanding American from Minnesota. Donny Wichmann received the State Medal of Courage Award from Minnesota. Honorees for the Lifetime Service Award were Gerry Bakke, Dale Benjamin, Gary Hindt, Ted Lelwica, Marty Morgan, John Oxton, and J Robinson.
NWHOF to Induct 9 new members at the Minnesota Chapter Banquet on April 21st
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter Banquet will take place on Saturday, April 21st in Austin, Minn.
Inductees/honorees will be Tim Penny as Outstanding American from Minnesota. Donny Wichmann will receive the State Medal of Courage Award from Minnesota. Honorees for the Lifetime Service Award are Gerry Bakke, Dale Benjamin, Gary Hindt, Ted Lelwica, Marty Morgan, John Oxton, and J Robinson.