CEDAR CITY, Utah, March 29 - Southern Utah University has named Nick Robinson as its men's basketball coach. SUU Athletic Director Ken Beazer introduced Robinson - the eighth head coach during the school's 49-year history as a four-year institution - this afternoon at a press conference held on the school's campus.

A 2005 graduate of Stanford University, Robinson has spent the last three seasons on the staff at Louisiana State University. Prior to his time at LSU Robinson spent a season on the staff at William Jewell College and two seasons as an assistant coach at Stanford.

"Nick is exactly what this program needs," Beazer said. "He comes to us with the highest of recommendations. He's a tireless worker and an outstanding recruiter and we believe that he and his family will fit well into the community.

"Nick will build upon the foundation that we have and lead the program into the Big Sky Conference," Beazer added.

"It's a privilege and an honor to be the eighth head men's basketball coach here at Southern Utah University," Robinson said. "I'm extremely grateful and extremely excited about the opportunity to be here.

"I feel like Southern Utah University is a fantastic fit, not only for me as a basketball coach but also for our family," he added.

"I feel that my responsibility as the next head men's basketball coach here is to help the young men that come through this program to develop intellectually, culturally, socially and on the basketball court as well," Robinson pointed out. "That's going to be our number-one responsibility, to make sure the guys that come through the program are students first, that they improve athletically, but they're on track to graduate so they can move forward and have options, whether that's in the business world, in education, or even playing at the next level."

"I want to congratulate Nick Robinson," said LSU Coach Trent  Johnson from New Orleans where he is attending NABC board meetings. "I cannot express my excitement for Nick. This is a great fit for both Nick and for Southern Utah. Having recruited him as a player at Stanford, it has been great to see his development first as a player and later as an assistant coach. I believe he is going to do extraordinary things as a head coach. I wish Nick and his family nothing but the best in the future."

At LSU Robinson served as executive assistant to the head coach, director of basketball operations and as assistant coach on Head Coach Trent Johnson's staff, serving one season in each capacity. In addition to operations responsibilities with the Tigers, Coach Robinson also worked with player development, on-the-floor coaching, recruiting and game preparation.

As a member of Coach Larry Holley's staff at William Jewell in 2008-09, Robinson helped the Cardinals to a 23-11 record and an appearance in the NAIA national tournament while working with all aspects of the program.

Prior to joining the staff at William Jewell, Robinson was an assistant under Johnson at Stanford from 2006 to 2008, where he worked with recruiting, scouting, game-preparation and player development while also working as a position coach with the Cardinal forwards.

Robinson worked with future NBA players Brook and Robin Lopez, and Landry Fields, at Stanford. He helped coach the team to NCAA tournament berths in both 2007 and 2008, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2008 when the team finished second in the Pac-10 at 13-5 with a 28-8 overall mark.

Coach Robinson also spent one season as a volunteer assistant in the prep ranks, at Albuquerque, N.M.-area Rio Rancho High School, in 2005-06.

As a player at Stanford, Robinson helped the team to a 92-34 overall record and four NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2003-04 season when the Cardinal earned a No. 1 national ranking and a Pac-10 championship.            

Robinson started 67 of the 110 games in which he appeared under Johnson (2004-05) and coach Mike Montgomery (2001-04). His teammates named him Stanford's best defensive player three times and he served as a team captain during his junior and senior seasons.

He was a three-time recipient of the University's Howie Dallmar Coaches award, presented annually to a Stanford student-athlete who displays excellence on and off the court. He also earned a spot on the Capital One University Division Academic All-District VIII team his senior year and was a three-time academic all-Pac-10 selection.

A native of Liberty, Mo., Coach Robinson holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in sociology from Stanford.

He and his wife, Meagan, are the parents of three children, Annie, Tate and Toby.

The Robinson File

            Coaching Experience

                        Head Coach, Southern Utah University            March 29, 2012

                        Assistant Coach, Louisiana State                    2011-12

                        Director of Operations, LSU                           2010-11

                        Executive Assistant to Head Coach, LSU          2009-10

                        Assistant Coach, William Jewell College           2008-09

                        Assistant Coach, Stanford University               2006-08

                        Director of Basketball Operations, Stanford      2006

            Education: MA, Sociology, Stanford University. BA, Political Science, Stanford University

            Family: Wife, Meagan; Children, Annie, Tate, Toby