In a historic move for the team, school and entire Las Vegas Valley, famed football coach John Robinson was hired as the eighth head coach in UNLV history on Dec. 3, 1998.

Bringing instant credibility to a program that last fall moved into the new Mountain West Conference, Robinson is one of college football's most successful and recognizable figures.

Still passionate about the game he teaches, Robinson's stunning move to the desert and subsequent courting of Southern Nevada's loyalties has rapidly mined a football spirit not before seen in the City of Lights.

"The hiring of John Robinson should be proof positive that UNLV is committed to its football program and is serious about its membership in the Mountain West Conference," UNLV President Dr. Carol C. Harter said.

Robinson, 64, is the nation's eighth-winningest active coach with a career record of 107-43-4, for a percentage of .708. In addition, his 7-1 bowl record gives him a higher winning percentage in the postseason (.875) than any active college coach with a minimum of eight games.

Robinson, who earned his 100th career victory at the University of Southern California in 1997 with a win vs. UNLV, had two stints with the Trojans. He first became head coach in 1976 and spent seven years leading Troy. His teams won 82 percent of their games (67-14-2) in his original run, averaging nearly 10 victories a year. In fact, Robinson tied a NCAA record for most wins by a first-year head coach after his team went 11-1 and earned a Rose Bowl berth.

He won the 1978 national championship with a 12-1 mark (USC was ranked No. 2 in both 1976 and '79), led the Trojans to three Pac-10 titles and guided Troy to five postseason bowls. Also, from 1978 through 1980, USC posted a school-record 28-game unbeaten streak.

Along the way, he coached two Heisman Trophy winners (running backs Charles White in 1979 and Marcus Allen in 1981) and a Lombardi Award honoree (guard Brad Budde in 1979). Also, Robinson was named National Coach of the Year in 1979 following an 11-0-1 campaign.

After spending four months as USC's senior vice president for university relations, Robinson headed to the NFL to take over the Los Angeles Rams. His stint in pro ball produced the most victories (79) in Rams history. During his nine years with the club (1983-91), he reached the playoffs six times and twice advanced to the NFC championship game (1985 & '89).

He spent 1992 as a television analyst before returning to USC for the 1993 season. His second term at Troy lasted until 1997 and featured three more bowl victories, including the Rose Bowl title over Northwestern following the 1995 season that improved his career record in the Granddaddy of them All to a sparkling 4-0.

Robinson began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Oregon, for 12 seasons (1960-71). He moved to USC to direct the school's offense for three years (1972-74) before serving as the backfield coach for the NFL's Oakland Raiders in 1975 under childhood friend John Madden.

Considered an expert on the running game, Robinson has produced four NFL rushing champions and two NCAA rushing leaders. Overall, he has tutored 24 first team All-Americans, 22 NFL first-round selections and 86 NFL draft picks. Born on July 25, 1935, Robinson grew up in Daly City, Calif., and starred in football and baseball at Serra High School San Mateo. He then lettered as an end for Oregon when the Ducks won the 1957 Pacific Coast Conference title and played in the Rose Bowl. He received his bachelor's degree in education from the school in 1958.

Robinson and wife, Linda, have six grown children and six grandchildren.

ROBINSON'S HEAD COACHING RECORD

COLLEGE
Year    School  Overall Conf.(Pl.)  Bowl1976    USC 11-1    7-0 (1st)   Rose (W)1977    USC 8-4 5-2 (2nd)   Bluebonnet (W)1978    USC 12-1    6-1 (1st)   Rose (W)1979    USC 11-0-1  6-0 (1st)   Rose (W)1980    USC 8-2-1   4-2-1 (3rd) -1981    USC 9-3 5-2 (2nd)   Fiesta (L)1982    USC 8-3 5-2 (3rd)   -1993    USC 8-5 6-2 (T1st)  Freedom (W)1994    USC 8-3-1   6-2 (T2nd)  Cotton (W)1995    USC 9-2-1   6-1-1 (T1st)    Rose (W)1996    USC 6-6 3-4 (5th)   -1997    USC 6-5 4-4 (T5th)  -1999    UNLV    3-8 1-6 (8th)   -TOTAL    107-43-4 (.708) - 13 seasons

LOS ANGELES RAMS (NFL)
Year    Record  Div. Fin.Playoffs
1983    9-7 2nd First Round1984    10-6    2nd Wild Card1985    11-5    1st NFC Championship Game1986    10-6    2nd First Round1987    6-9 3rd -1988    10-6    2nd First Round1989    11-5    2nd NFC Championship Game1990    5-11    3rd -1991    3-13    4th -TOTAL    79-74 (.516) - 9 seasonsCAREER          186-117-4 (.612) 22 seasons

COACHING HONORS
1976 Pac-8 and West Coast Coach of the Year1978 Pac-10 and West Coast Coach of the Year1979 National Coach of the Year

WINNINGEST ACTIVE DIVISION I-A COACHES
(Minimum five years as I-A head coach)
COACH, COLLEGE             YRS  RECORD          PCTPhillip Fulmer, Tennessee      8    76-14-0         .844Joe Paterno, Penn State        34   317-83-3        .790Bobby Bowden, Florida State    34   304-85-4        .779Steve Spurrier, Florida        13   122-35-2        .774R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M         11   102-32-2    .757Dennis Erickson, Oregon State  14   120-45-1    .726LaVell Edwards, BYU        28   251-95-3    .723JOHN ROBINSON, UNLV        13   107-43-4    .708