ARLINGTON, Texas – Former Southern California head coach John Robinson, one of college football's and the Cotton Bowl Classic's greatest coaching legends, passed away on Monday, Nov. 11, in Baton Rouge, La., from complications of pneumonia. He was 89.

In his coaching career, Robinson was involved in three national championships. As USC's offensive coordinator under head coach John McKay, he helped the Trojans win the 1972 University Division (renamed Division I in 1973) national championship and the 1974 Division I national championship. As the school's head coach, Robinson guided the Trojans to the 1978 national championship and eight bowl games, including a record-setting 55-14 victory over Texas Tech in the 59th Cotton Bowl Classic on January 2, 1995.
 
He served as Southern California's head football coach during two coaching stints spread over 12 years (1976-82 and 1993-97). Robinson's career record at USC was 104-35-4 where he won 74.1 percent of his games. His teams collected five Pac-10 championships and were unbeaten in the Rose Bowl with a perfect 4-0 record. In the postseason, Robinson was 7-1 at USC and 1-0 at UNLV.
 
Robinson earned National Coach of the Year honors in 1979 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. The coaching legend was honored with his enshrinement into the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame in 2018. He is also a member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame (2004) and the Las Vegas Bowl Hall of Fame (2011).
 
During an illustrious coaching career, Robinson mentored two Heisman Trophy winners at Southern California, tailbacks Charles White (1979) and Marcus Allen (1981). He also coached two other Trojan running backs that finished as Heisman runners-up, Anthony Davis (1974) and Ricky Bell (1976). In total, he produced 24 first-team All-Americans and 22 players that were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
 
Robinson also achieved success in the NFL as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams (1983-91), and twice advanced to the NFC Championship Game. His final stop as a college head coach was at UNLV from 1999-2004.
 
Following his coaching career, Robinson became a color analyst on national college football radio broadcasts. He later became a senior consultant with the LSU football program, helping the Tigers win the national title in 2019.
 
"We are deeply saddened to learn of Coach Robinson's passing," said Rick Baker, President/Chief Executive Officer, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. "He was one of our game's biggest advocates. No matter where we saw him, he always made a point to come over and tell us how much he enjoyed his experience at the Cotton Bowl Classic. College football has lost a truly good man."
 
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