New Abu Dhabi Wildcats coach Tony Robinson arrives to the Emirates American Football League bringing valuable pedigree on top of a passion for the game which has fuelled him in life.
With former coach Charles Gillespie moving on, Robinson will take over at the helm of the Wildcats, the most successful team in the EAFL’s brief history.
The Wildcats won the inaugural Desert Bowl in 2013 before repeating as champions the following year, but failed to reach the big stage this past season as they underachieved by their lofty standards.
– NATIONAL SPORTS DAY: Dubai Marine to host numerous festivities
– NATIONAL SPORTS DAY: AD hopes for big turnover in celebration
– FOLLOW: Live cricket scores around the world
Replacing the ever-popular Gillespie won’t be easy, but Robinson, who moved to the nation’s capital in August after his wife received a teaching job, has all the qualities and experience the Wildcats could want in a successor.
The 37-year-old played Division I college football as a defensive tackle for Georgia Tech from 1997-2000 and fought for a job in training camp with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
Coaching-wise, Robinson was in the Georgia high school football system for eight years, where he held multiple positions, including defensive coordinator for junior varsity and defensive co-coordinator/defensive line coach for varsity.
As accomplished as Robinson’s resume is, it pales in comparison to the motivation that has driven him to reach the levels of the sport he has.
More than anything, the appreciation of the game is what he wants to impart on the Wildcats.
Finally, the @ADWildcatsMen have a home game. Zayed Sports City, 6PM, Friday, November 14th. In search of our 3rd championship
— Abu Dhabi Wildcats (@AUHwildcats) November 14, 2014
“For me growing up, I didn’t have a whole lot,” Robinson said. “One of the things I wrestled with a lot as a young man was that my father was never around. For the longest time, I thought ‘okay, the better I do at football, maybe he’ll come around’.
“And he never did. At one point in life, the switch came on and I realised I can use this game to get a lot further in life than I would on my own.
“It’s just about telling the guys, hey look, maybe this game doesn’t take you to Division I college football, so be it. But one of the best and biggest lessons you can learn from this game is you’re going to get knocked down, you’ve got to learn how to get up.
“An interesting caveat to that is working your best not to get knocked down the same way again. That’s not just football. That’s life.”
In terms of hands-on coaching, Robinson will focus on passing on the knowledge he’s gained playing at the highest levels as the basis for educating his players.
My daughter has learned how to use my coaching whistle, and has agreed to terms with for the upcoming 2015-2016 season. Lol
— Abu Dhabi Wildcats (@AUHwildcats) April 19, 2015
“It’s teaching the game from, for lack of a better term, an academic standpoint so they actually learn the Xs and Os and the whys behind what we do,” Robinson said.
“That’s how I’ve always coached and that’s the way I’ve always been coached and I’ve been pretty successful doing that.”
“When we sat down a couple weeks ago at the sign-up event, one of the things that came up was some of the guys didn’t understand how to watch and break down film.
“For me, playing on the level that I’ve played on and on the level I’ve coached on, I feel like I have some nice clay to work with as far as moulding these guys into students of the game of football.”
The turnover in the EAFL doesn’t stop for anyone, but in Robinson, the Wildcats appear to be in good hands for a return to the top.
