Former Los Angeles Rams and USC head coach John Robinson was one of those rare few who were immensely successful in both the college and professional levels. While younger fans may remember Pete Carroll as a prime example of such a coach, it was Robinson who left an indelible mark on the game in a career that spanned five decades.
There are many great coaches who have manned the sidelines of football games, from peewee leagues to the NFL. Indeed, a head coach in any sport plays an important role in the lives of their players, serving as a role model and teacher. There are very few, however, who find high levels of success on multiple levels, specifically in the college and NCAA ranks.
On Monday, it was, unfortunately, reported that the coaching legend passed away at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana due to complications from pneumonia. He was 89 years old.
John Robinson Won a National Championship with the USC Trojans

Robinson started his coaching career in 1960 as an assistant coach at Oregon. He remained at the university until 1971 when he was hired by USC to serve as their offensive coordinator. He remained there through the 1974 season before spending the 1975 season as the running backs coach of the Oakland Raiders.
In 1976, Robinson returned to USC, this time as the team’s head coach. In seven seasons, Robinson led the Trojans to three conference titles and five bowl games, which included three Rose Bowl victories. USC won the 1979 National Championship with Robinson at the helm.
He stepped down as head coach following the 1982 season with a record of 67-14-2.
Over a decade later, Robinson returned to USC as their head coach in 1993. He led the Trojans to three more Bowl games, including another Rose Bowl victory in 1996.
Despite a successful stint in which he never had a losing record, his 3-6-1 record against Notre Dame and UCLA led to his firing in 1997. Overall, Robinson had a record of 37-21-2 in his second stint at USC.
John Robinson Had a Successful Run as the Head Coach of the Los Angeles Rams

In between his stints as the head coach at USC, Robinson served the same role with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL. Hired in 1983, the legendary coach guided the Rams to the postseason in six of his first seven seasons. Most notably, his acumen for implementing a strong running offense helped Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson rush for 7,245 yards in his first four-plus seasons in the NFL.
Robinson led Los Angeles to the NFC Championship Game twice, losing both times to the eventual Super Bowl Champions (the Chicago Bears in 1985 and the San Francisco 49ers in 1989).
Robinson’s 79 wins are still the most by a head coach in franchise history.
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