Craig Robinson

Craig Malcolm Robinson, born on April 21, 1962, in Calumet Park, Illinois, is an American professional involved in college basketball as a coach, executive, and broadcaster. He is notably a former head men's basketball coach at Oregon State University and Brown University. Robinson is the brother of Marian Robinson and the brother-in-law of former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.

Early Life and Education:

Robinson was raised in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood by his parents, Fraser Robinson, who worked at a city water plant and served as a Democratic precinct captain, and Marian Robinson, a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store. He learned to read at age four and was identified as academically advanced, skipping the second grade. He graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1979, a Catholic parochial school.

College Playing Career:

Robinson attended Princeton University, where he played basketball as a forward and was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year in the 1981–1982 and 1982–1983 seasons. He led the league in field goal percentage twice and ranks as the fourth-highest scorer in Princeton history. During his time at Princeton, his senior thesis focused on social stratification in prisons. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

Professional and Early Coaching Career:

Robinson was selected in the fourth round of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers but never played in the NBA. Instead, he played professionally for two seasons in the British Basketball League with the Manchester Giants. Returning to the U.S., he served as an assistant coach at Illinois Institute of Technology from 1988 to 1990. Robinson also participated in practice sessions with Michael Jordan during Jordan's comeback and was invited to train with Jordan, which became part of the narrative surrounding Jordan's career.

Business Career:

In the 1990s, Robinson transitioned from basketball to finance, earning an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1992. He worked as a bond trader and held positions such as vice president at Continental Illinois Bank (1990–1992) and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (1992–1999). Later, he became a managing director and partner at Loop Capital Markets, a minority-owned investment banking firm.

Family and Personal Life:

Robinson's sister, Michelle Obama, began dating Barack Obama in the 1990s. Robinson played a role in their relationship, recounting a basketball pick-up game with Obama as a character assessment for Michelle. Robinson has two children from his first marriage, son Avery (born 1992) and daughter Leslie (born 1996). He married his current wife, Kelly, in June 2006. They have two sons, Austin (born 2010) and Aaron (born 2012). His daughter Leslie played for Princeton's women's basketball team.

Return to Coaching:

Robinson resumed coaching in 1999, accepting an assistant role at Northwestern University under Bill Carmody, where he was credited with effective recruiting. He became head coach at Brown University in 2006, implementing the Princeton offense and focusing on player development and academic improvement. In his first season (2006–2007), he earned Ivy League Coach of the Year honors as Brown finished fifth and then second in the league the following year with a school-record 19 wins.

Involvement in Political Campaigns:

Throughout his coaching career, Robinson supported his brother-in-law, Barack Obama, during the 2008 presidential campaign, participating in campaigning and giving speeches. He introduced Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and was present during President Barack Obama's victory speech in Grant Park.

Head Coaching at Oregon State:

Robinson was appointed the head coach at Oregon State University on April 7, 2008, replacing Jesse Agel. His inaugural season saw a notable victory over USC, breaking a nearly two-year Pac-10 losing streak, earning him recognition from President-elect Obama. Robinson's team advanced to the 2009 College Basketball Invitational, winning the tournament with a 5–1 record, culminating in Oregon State's first postseason tournament championship.

During his tenure, Robinson emphasized a disciplined, tough-love coaching style. The team experienced mixed results over subsequent seasons, with notable improvements including a second-place finish in the league in the 2009–2010 season and a conference tournament appearance. A two-year contract extension was signed in March 2010. Robinson published his memoir, "A Game of Character," in April 2010, detailing his personal and professional journey.

Throughout his coaching career at Oregon State, his teams showed varying performances, with significant achievements including their CBI championship and noteworthy recruiting classes. The Obamas maintained support for Robinson, attending games during his tenure.