Editor’s note: The author, Steve Bailey, is outreach coordinator at the Anson County Historical Society. The source for the following article is the Anson Record, May 26, 2010.
The first African-American head coach in NCAA Division 1 basketball was born in Wadesboro.
William Joseph Robinson was born on June 3, 1911, to Mary Robinson and Will Staton. Will Staton died in 1919 and Mary Robinson continued to live in Wadesboro, but William Robinson lived with his grandmother Sophie Robinson Willoughby. In about 1920 William Robinson’s grandmother and other Robinson family members decided to move to Steubenville, Ohio, for a better life.
Sophia Willoughby impressed upon her grandson to get a good education so his life would be much better than hers.
William became the head basketball coach at Illinois State University in 1970. He moved on to become a scout for the Detroit Pistons in 1976. He was credited with discovering Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, both of whom had standout basketball careers. He was also a part-time scout for the Detroit Lions for 22 years. He retired from the Pistons in 2003 and died on April 28, 2008, at age 96.