Andy Robinson,10 seasons of excellence
Jesus Arce, Staff Writer
Ten years can be a long time. For coach Andy Robinson, taking the helm this season is synonymous with consistency. Entering his 10 year in charge of the North Greenville University women’s soccer program, his hard work is reflected not only in the results, but in the way he coaches.
With four coaches of the year awards to his credit, Robinson has coached men’s and women’s teams for at least 30 years. But in his words, there is something special about coaching at North Greenville University.
“What is special for me to coach here I would say are my players, you know, they’ve come a long way over the years. I would say the opportunity to compete at a high Division Two level. And I would say it’s the coaches and the players that I get to interact with every day,” he said.
Robinson has a team and game philosophy rooted in excellence and collective work, since in his words, the team is like a family to him.
“We are team-oriented and very family-oriented. They all play an important role. And if one gets injured, and the next one steps up, philosophy as far as soccer? Yes, give excellence every day. Do the best that you can worry about the things that you can control and play for the person on your right and your left,” he said.
In Robinson’s words, team unity is an important factor that can affect seasonal results. Helping others and thinking collectively describes well the way he coaches.
This year, unlike many coaches, Robinson’s goal is not to win the conference title. For him, those are things that cannot be controlled but according to him, improving every day is something that is within the reach of his players.
“Everybody’s goal is to win the conference. We really focus on the things that we can control. when we come out to practice, we’re ready to work hard on things that make us a better soccer player in the downtime. Every coach wants to win the conference, but for us, we want every player to get better every day,” he said.
The best example that shows the mentality of Robinson and his leaders is their character and mentality when it comes to giving back to the community and the school. To quote his words, it is something he would like to invest in to make his program a better one.
With a record of 73 wins, 64 losses and 14 ties, Robinson has a winning percentage of 53% of games played. With six (’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22) national tournament appearances, his coaching record stands out from many other programs.
Robinson decided to close with a message to all members of NGU, wanting to make his program more recognized.
“I would love for the students to come out and watch these girls play. They’re very talented and I would love for them to come and see who is representing them on a Tuesday or Saturday. The girls are fun to watch, and the biggest thing is just to come out and support them,” he said.
