Custom Search TUSKEGEE, Ala. - Tuskegee University athletic director Curtis Campbell has announced the hiring of Melissa Robinson to head the Lady Tigers volleyball program Friday. She will assume all duties effective August 1.
Robinson
"I am excited to have a full time volleyball coach and this will definitely improve the competitiveness of our program," Campbell said. "Coach (Melissa) Robinson has been a part of a conference championship program and knows what it takes to win in this conference. She also has the experience at the regional level as she has coached in the Division II Regionals.
"She has the recruiting experience to bring quality student-athletes on campus to build a championship program. Her championship experience and her recruiting experience made her stand out as a candidate for our position and I can't wait for her to get to campus and get started."
Robinson joins the staff at Tuskegee after a year as the assistant coach at fellow-SIAC member Claflin University, where she helped lead the team to their first SIAC championship last season. During the 2014 season, Robinson was instrumental in Claflin qualifying for their first NCAA Regional, having three players named to the All-Conference team, multiple All-Tournament selections and multiple other awards.
“I am excited about the opportunity,” Robinson said. “I can’t wait to get to Tuskegee and start working. The school is so rich and history, and I want to be able to make a mark in that history with the volleyball program.”
At Claflin, Robinson was responsible for setter training, running an effective offense and creating an offensive playbook. The setter for Claflin, Caleen Hawkins, recorded 1246 assists during the 2014 season; while five different players combined for 1314 kills under the system developed by Robinson.
She joined the Claflin staff after serving one season (2013) as an assistant coach at South Carolina State University. In the previous year (2012), she served as the graduate assistant with South Carolina State.
“I am very thankful for the opportunity, but would remised if I didn’t say how sad I was at the same time,” Robinson said. “Claflin gave me an opportunity to grow as a coach and without that experience, this opportunity would have never presented itself.”
Robinson had a successful three year career as a member of the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs from 2009-2012. In addition to helping guide her team to the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference volleyball title, she currently sits second all-time in digs with 996 and fourth all-time in service aces with 146 in the Lady Bulldogs record book. During her senior season (2011) she set the school record for most digs in a season with 449. Also in that season she finished ranked 6th nationally in aces per set.
As a student-athlete, Robinson was a member of the South Carolina American Alliance for health, physical education, recreation and dance and the Student-Athlete Advisory committee.
The Tallahassee, Fla. native received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education-Sport Communication from South Carolina State University in May 2012.
She is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association.