Joe Robinson, one of the most respected special teams coaches in the country, will enter his third season as UTEP’s special teams coach in 2020.
Robinson, a native of Abilene, Texas, is at his third football program in the Lone Star State. Prior to coming to UTEP, he completed the 2016 campaign at Texas Tech as the special teams coordinator with then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury and served on current UTEP head coach Dana Dimel’s staff at Houston in 2002.
Under Robinson's tutelage, kicker Gavin Baechle enjoyed one of the top seasons in school history in 2019. He finished 13-for-16 on field goal attempts and a perfect 22-for-22 on PATs. In 2018, Baechle ranked second in Conference USA in kickoff average (64.4) and third in touchback percentage (68.2). Robinson has also spent the last two years working with punter Mitchell Crawford, an honorable mention All-League performer in 2018.
While at Texas Tech, Robinson's special teams unit ranked among the top 50 in the country for both punt returns (39th) and blocked kicks (44th). It marked the second time in three years that Robinson’s punt return team rated in the top-40 nationally.
Texas Tech blocked a pair of field goals during the 2016 season – its most since 2013 – while Cameron Batson averaged 9.6 yards per punt return, the highest average for a Red Raider since 2012. Batson ended his junior year ranked 23rd nationally in punt return average.
In 2016, Red Raider Clayton Hatfield became one of the most accurate kickers in the country under Robinson’s tutelage. He ended the year 13-of-14 on field goal attempts to rank fourth nationally in field goal percentage.
Prior to coaching in Lubbock, Robinson served on Steve Spurrier’s staff at South Carolina for four seasons. Robinson coached the tight ends and special teams in 2012, then served as special teams coordinator the next three campaigns (2013-15).
In four seasons in Columbia, Robinson, the 2010 Football Scoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year, produced several strong special teams units for a South Carolina program that recorded a pair of 11-win seasons and three bowl appearances during his tenure.
South Carolina ranked among the national leaders in several special teams categories during Robinson’s final season in 2015, finishing seventh in net punting, 24th in kickoff return defense and 30th in kickoff returns. The Gamecocks previously ranked ninth nationally for punt returns and 18th for punt return defense in 2012.
During Robinson’s first year at South Carolina, Ace Sanders set a school record for punt return yards in a season while earning second team All-America honors and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year accolades. Pharoh Cooper also earned Freshman All-SEC honors under Robinson as a return specialist in 2013.
Robinson spent the 2011 season coaching the defensive line at the University of North Carolina. While coaching at Chapel Hill in 2011, defensive lineman Quinton Coples led the Tar Heels in tackles for loss (15.0-69 yards), sacks (7.5-51 yards) and hurries (seven). Coples ranked fourth on the defense with 55 tackles and tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles.
Robinson spent three years coaching the defensive line and special teams at LSU (2008-10), where he earned his acclaim as a top special teams coordinator with the Tigers. In 2010, LSU finished in the top-13 nationally in net punting, kickoff return average and punt return average en route to a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
LSU’s special teams combined to rank no. 1 overall in the SEC during the 2009 season. The Tigers were also the only SEC team to rank among the top-three in the conference in four special teams categories. Kick returner Trindon Holliday thrived under Robinson’s watch as he led the SEC and ranked second nationally in punt returns before being selected in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
LSU scored six special teams touchdowns during Robinson’s tenure, five of which were the result of a punt return. The lone exception was a 53-yard blocked field goal that was returned by Patrick Peterson against Ole Miss.
Prior to LSU, Robinson coached the defensive line and special teams unit at Arizona for four seasons (2004-07). Dimel was on the Wildcats’ staff from 2006-2008. Robinson was the special teams coordinator at UCF in 2003.
Robinson has coached a variety of positions during his coaching career, including the defensive line, special teams, linebackers and running back. He also has experience as a recruiting coordinator at both Southern Miss (1992-98) and LA Tech (1989-91, 2001).
Robinson, a 1985 graduate of LSU, began his coaching career in the high school ranks in 1986 as an assistant coach at Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee in Louisiana. He was promoted to head coach the following season and spent the 1988 campaign as the defensive coordinator at Bastrop High School (La.).
Robinson and his wife, Abby, are the parents to three daughters – Alexandra, Madeline and Valerie.
JOE ROBINSON COACHING EXPERIENCE
2018: UTEP (Special Teams Coordinator)
2016-2017: Texas Tech (Special Teams Coordinator)
2013-15: South Carolina (Special Teams Coordinator)
2012: South Carolina (Tight Ends & Special Teams)
2011: North Carolina Assistant Coach (Defensive Line)
2008-10: LSU (Defensive Line & Special Teams)
2004-07: Arizona (Defensive Ends & Special Teams)
2003: UCF (Special Teams Coordinator)
2002: Houston (Special Teams Coordinator)
2001: Louisiana Tech (Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
1996-98: Southern Miss (Special Teams/Recruiting Coordinator)
1994-96: Southern Miss (Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
1993: Southern Miss (Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
1992: Southern Miss (Defensive Line)
1990-91: Louisiana Tech (Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
1989: Louisiana Tech Graduate Assistant
1988: Bastrop (La.) H.S. Assistant Coach
1987: Catholic H.S. (La.) Head Coach
1986: Catholic H.S. (La.) Assistant Coach
