Condolences began rolling in from across the state on social media almost immediately last week after Durant High School girls basketball coach Will Robinson died as the result of a tragic Christmas Eve car accident in Sherman.
According to police reports, Robinson and his wife Kristen along with their four children were traveling to McKinney Tuesday morning in heavy rain when their vehicle left Highway 75 near Taylor Street and became trapped in a drainage ditch. The vehicle traveled down the creek where the mother and three children were rescued by the Sherman Fire Department. While attempting to save his eight-year-old daughter, Robinson was swept away in the rapidly moving water and perished before being located by rescue teams a mile and a half downstream. As of press time, the eight-year-old still had not been located despite the extensive search of Texas authorities.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Coach Robinson’s family during this difficult time,” Durant superintendent Mark Moring said in a statement. “We ask that you please continue to pray for them and for the rescue workers as the search continues for the missing child. I wanted you to know in this time of grief that we are doing everything possible within the District to prepare for your child’s return to class following the holiday break and to help them cope during this difficult time.
“We have a well-designed crisis plan in place and we are following it faithfully. Our counseling team, along with other trained professionals, will be available to visit with students as needed. We ask for your support for the Robinson family and our Lion family in this time of sorrow.”
The 36-year-old took over the Durant High girls coaching reins in the spring of 2019 following assisting at Colbert ahead of head coaching stops at S&S Consolidated in Texas along with one year at Achille before returning to his alma mater.
After a rough couple of seasons, Robinson began the climb back with an 1110 record in the 2021-22 campaign. The Lady Lions finished 15-8 a year later and then posted an 11-16 mark against a rugged district schedule last season but posted a pair of postseason victories – the program’s first in 12 years.
Under Robinson’s leadership, Durant had notched a 6-4 record this season going into the holiday break. In addition to his coaching duties, the 2007 DHS graduate was the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leader as well as assisting with The Owen Foundation.
As a player for the Lions, Robinson helped lead the squad to the Class 5A state semifinals his junior season in 2006, stunning John Marshall, 74-72, in a four overtime opening round thriller, before bowing out to eventual champ Tulsa Central in round two. It is still the Lions’ last trip to state.
That also marked Durant’s deepest basketball playoff run since 1979, equaling the only seasons the Lions have won a state tournament contest since winning the 1927 state championship.
Durant reached the area playoffs a year later, ending one victory from state, as Robinson was one of the team’s top scorers with 13 points per outing.
The smooth shooting southpaw garnered a scholarship to Southeastern where he played four years for his Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame father Tony before graduating and beginning his own coaching career.
His father, who was Will’s assistant, will continue coaching the Lady Lions through the remainder of the current season.