Southern Illinois coach Chris Lowery laughed as he recalled a certain clueless 8th-grader accepting the trophy as free throw champion once upon a time at an Isiah Thomas basketball camp.
Presenting that trophy to Lowery was an elderly gentleman who was one of the assistants at the camp.
"He was just 'that old guy' who knew a lot of basketball," Lowery said. "I had no idea who he was, what a pioneer he was."
"He" was Will Robinson, the first African-American head coach in Division I college basketball when Illinois State hired him in 1970.
This week, as America looks to its future with the historic inauguration of President Obama, Illinois State honors its past with a tribute to Robinson at halftime of its game Saturday against Southern Illinois. Robinson died April 28 at 96.
Among the honored guests will be members of Robinson's family and Doug Collins, a former Redbirds guard who played for Robinson before going on to a distinguished NBA career — and Lowery.
"Now I look at the photo of me with him and the [free throw] trophy and think, 'Man, I have a picture of me with Will Robinson,' " Lowery said. "We were all scared of him, too, because he would discipline you if you had your hat on wrong or whatever. And with him it was always, 'Yes, sir,' and 'No, sir.' "
Robinson compiled a 78-51 record before leaving to work for the Detroit Pistons. He never had a losing season in his five at Illinois State and his final game was a victory at West Virginia, his home-state school that once had denied him admission.
But it still was not an easy step for Robinson.
"[Athletic director] Milt Weisbecker told dad, 'If you have the courage, I'm behind you,' " Will Robinson Jr. said.
"People back then thought they were moving too fast. But dad always was moving 'too fast.' "
It wasn't always easy either.
"Milt did take heat from some people, including some on his own staff," former sports information director Roger Cushman said. "And Will lost some [white] friends over it too."
For Lowery, also African-American, to coach in the game set as a tribute to Robinson has special significance.
"I'm in the same state where he coached," Lowery said. "When you're young you find out who did things first and to find out how respected he was, across the board, is unbelievable."
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