The National Association of Basketball Coaches has announced that Craig Robinson, a former Oregon State male basketball coach and brother of former first lady Michelle Obama, has accepted a position as the organization’s next executive director.
The announcement indicates that Robinson will succeed Jim Haney, who has been executive director for 29 years.
“I am extremely honored and excited for this extraordinary and vital opportunity,” said Robinson. “I would like to thank the NABC, our board of directors, president Jamie Dixon and the research committee for selecting me at such an important time for our membership, our players and our game. I look forward to future challenges.”
Howie Kussoy of the New York Post noted that Robinson was the vice president of player development and minor league operations with the New York Knicks before accepting this position.
Former Knicks president Steve Mills, who was fired in February, hired Robinson, and Marc Berman of the New York Post pointed out that the latter’s contract ended at the end of the month.
Robinson didn’t have to stay with the Knicks.
Robinson has trained two seasons at Brown and six seasons in the state of Oregon from 2006-07 to 2013-14. He finished with a record of 124-133 and later worked in the Milwaukee Bucks front office in the player development and organization department.
As for the NABC, Dave Skretta of the Associated Press noted that it was founded in 1927 by former Kansas coach Phog Allen and “has continued to influence the rules and other issues ever since.”