Jeff Robinson - Men's Gymnastics Coach - Air Force Academy Athletics

Jeff Robinson

Title:
Men's Gymnastics Head Coach
Email:
Jeffrey.Robinson@usafa.edu
Phone:
719-333-7667

Jeff Robinson is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Air Force men’s gymnastics team. Robinson, who spent five years as an assistant coach with the Falcons’ program prior to being named the head coach in October 2015, brings over 40 years of experience in gymnastics to Air Force, ranging from performance to hands-on teaching and coaching.

During his first season as head coach, Robinson saw the Falcons account for a program-record three NCAA All-Americans, the national runner-up on the still rings at the NCAA Championships and four top-10 finishes in the individual event finals. He was named the USAG Varsity Head Coach of the Year, as he guided Air Force to its seventh-straight team title and saw Tim Wang claim two individual championships. In addition, Robinson’s gymnasts recorded three individual records and set program-best team marks on the floor exercise, still rings and vault.

Robinson repeated as the USAG Varsity Head Coach of the Year in 2017, after guiding the Falcons to their eighth consecutive USAG title. He also saw his squad capture their seventh-straight title at the All-Academy Championships, make their seventh appearance at the NCAA National Qualifier, and earn the program’s first-ever victory over conference-rival Cal. Under Robinson’s watch, Wang was named a finalist of the prestigious Nissen-Emery award, earned two USAG titles, won the pommel horse at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, and became the most decorated NCAA All-American in Air Force history.

The Falcons successfully defended their USAG championship again in 2018, marking the ninth-straight year that the Falcons have captured the division’s top honor. Robinson earned his third USAG Varsity Coach of the Year award, while the Falcons accounted for three individual USAG event titles – the most since 2015. Air Force qualified to its eighth-straight NCAA National Qualifier and Robinson saw three of his gymnasts advance into the national finals in four events.

Prior to his appointment as head coach, Robinson spent five seasons as an assistant for the Falcons’ squad. While helping Air Force to five consecutive USAG National Championship team titles, Robinson was named the USAG Assistant Coach of the Year four times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015). In addition to the team titles at the USAG Championships, Air Force claimed five straight titles at the All-Academy Championships, posted its best-ever finish at the NCAA National Qualifier and set 14 Academy records during Robinson’s time as an assistant.

He received the prestigious Honor Coach Award from the College Gymnastics Association in 2015. The award, the highest annual honor presented by the CGA, was in recognition of his years of service to coaching and developing gymnasts.

Aside from his work in collegiate gymnastics, Robinson has served in a variety of capacities for the USA Gymnastics Men’s Program over the last 30 years. In addition to spending three years as the Junior Olympic Program Coordinator (2006-08), Robinson served two terms as chairman of the men’s age group competition committee, worked on the Task Force for Elite Training Alternatives committee and served as a guest clinician and presenter at numerous USAG Men’s Coaching Workshops and at the USAG National and Regional Congress.

Robinson was honored with the Frank Cumiskey Service Award during the 2011 Junior Olympic Nationals meet, recognizing the work he has done with the Junior Program over the last 25 years. It is the highest honor awarded to an administrator of the USA Gymnastics junior program.

He is the co-founder and owner of Gymnastics University LLC, a gymnastics business consultancy firm that assists in areas ranging from facility development and construction to freelance teaching and coaching to business development and staff development.

Robinson spent many years working in the entertainment division at Walt Disney World Resort. He was a principal performer for multiple live-action shows, including Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Fantasmic and Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. He also worked as a stunt manager, where he recruited and trained new players, evaluated performances, wrote operational guidelines and safety procedures and inspected the facility.

He spent 10 years at Orlando Metro Gymnastics, a club that he co-founded in 1992. As the men’s program director and head coach, Robinson helped develop 10 U.S. Junior and Senior National Team members. He also worked as the head coach for the Barbados International Men’s Gymnastics Delegation and served as the personal coach for Francis ‘Shane’ DeFreitas, who competed at the 1995 World Championships, the 1996 I.E.F. World Championships and the 1996 Olympic Games.

Robinson also served as the boy’s program director and head coach at Brown’s Gymnastics Central (1984-88) and as the general manager, program director and head coach at Gymnastics Plus (1983-84).

A FIG Level III Brevet Coach, Robinson has received numerous coaching awards at the club level. A member of the inaugural USA Gymnastics Region VIII Hall of Fame in 2010, he has also been named Coach of the Year by the Florida USA Gymnastics Men’s Program (2003) and by the Seminole County School Board (1989).

Robinson is a 1982 magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University (education: physical education/biology). He went on to earn a master’s degree in education (physical education/business) from Memphis State University in 1983.

He and his wife, Kristine, have a blended family with seven children – Jessica (29), Danielle (26), Megan (25), Mason (24), Christopher (14) and 11-year-old twins Dallas and Garrett.