Maryland Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame Spotlight: Patty Corson Robbins

Patty Corson Robbins achieved several firsts for Maryland women’s swimming, including being the first Olympic trials qualifier and the first All-American. 

Nearly four decades later, Corson Robbins will add another critical first to her list when she becomes the first women’s swimmer in the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 18.  

“To me, this is the highest achievement,” Corson Robbins said. “Even though I was an All-American, you stand on a podium at times, you win ACCs. This is a reflection of everything to me. Being the only women’s swimmer that's been inducted, I feel that I'm representing the whole program.”

Corson Robbins swam for the Terps from 1984-87, during the early days of Maryland women’s swimming. Although the men’s program dates back to 1956, the NCAA-level women’s program didn’t begin until 1978 — six years after the enactment of Title IX. 

As a result, swimmers like Corson Robbins helped set the standard for the women’s program and were trailblazers for the next generation of Terp swimmers. 

Charlie Hoffman was Corson Robbins’ coach during her four years with the program, coaching from 1980-87. He expressed great pride in his former swimmer’s induction into the Hall of Fame. 

“I think it's about time,” Hoffman said. “As far as the women’s team, she, by far, was one of the hardest workers I've had the honor to coach. There were some great swimmers after her that came along, but she was kind of the trailblazer.”

Kirk Sanocki, an assistant coach under Hoffman from 1985-88, echoed a similar sentiment regarding Corson Robbins’ Hall of Fame career.

“She was like the prototypical top swimmer,” Sanocki said. “She was very organized, very detailed. It’s so well deserved. I’m really happy for her and her family.” 

Corson Robbins hails from Millville, a small town in South Jersey. She is the middle of three children raised by her mother — a teacher, and her father — a civil engineer. 

Corson Robbins didn’t get into swimming until she was 10. Ironically, the Hall of Fame swimmer failed her first swim team test at the local YMCA. But after some lessons, she made the team and began her competitive swimming career.

Corson Robbins remembers her regimented swim practice routine during her childhood. 

“You came home from school, you got your homework done, you had dinner, and then you went to the pool and swam,” Corson Robbins said.

Her pre-college swim journey included a job on beach patrol in Wildwood Crest, N.J. Corson Robbins was the first female lifeguard in the beach town’s history. 

She began to noticeably improve in swimming as a teenager, earning her a training opportunity with the swim coach from her neighboring high school. 

“The coach there really took me under his wing during high school,” Corson Robbins said. “I would swim for my school but then swim invitationals [individually]. I kind of separated myself from a lot of others in the town. … I really wanted to swim in college.”

Corson Robbins’ college tour took her to schools around the region, but Maryland’s recruitment push for the N.J.-based swimmer led her to College Park. She felt instantly connected to the program. 

“I felt very comfortable at Maryland,” Corson Robbins said. “I had a feeling walking on campus, meeting the coach, meeting some of the girls. I just knew that I felt like I fit there.”

Hoffman recalls initiating that recruiting push for Corson Robbins.

“She was one of my top recruits. She fit in real well,” Hoffman said. “As far as our team was concerned, she turned from being a very good swimmer to one of the best Maryland ever had.”

Sanokci described Corson Robbins’ development at Maryland as going from a talented, small-town swimmer to an elite Division I competitor.

“You could see early on that she had a tremendous amount of ability, but she had never encountered any double training sessions prior to arriving at the university,” Sanokci said. “You could see with her training regimen as it elevated. It started to elevate her as an athlete. It was only a matter of time before she started doing some very high-level things in the conference and in the NCAA.” 

In addition to her numerous firsts as a Terp, Corson Robbins was the 1986 ACC champion in the 200 backstroke and earned All-ACC honors twice (1986 and 1987). She was also a four-time All-American, three times in the 200 backstroke and once in the 100 backstroke. 

Corson Robbins made great memories in the pool and has stayed close with her former coaches, Hoffman and Sanocki. But she also appreciates her Maryland experiences outside of the pool.

“I went through the time with Boomer Esiason and Len Bias, and our dining hall was where the football and basketball teams came,” Corson Robbins said. “So there were a whole lot of evenings that you just kind of yucked it up out in the courtyard with some great basketball and football players.”

Corson Robbins also enjoyed traveling to out-of-state meets as a student-athlete. She recalled one especially enjoyable trip when the swimming and football teams had matchups with Auburn. After their Friday night meet, the swim team, accompanied by Testudo, infiltrated the Auburn stands to cheer for the Terps during the Saturday football game. 

“To think that I'm going to a university that is helping support my swimming career and my education, and I get to fly to Alabama like that,” Corson Robbins said. “It just kind of blew my mind.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, Corson Robbins moved back home to work as a teacher. She coached swimming, field hockey and cross country before starting a family with her husband.

Corson Robbins earned a master’s degree in school leadership and worked as an educator for 30 years. Before retiring, she served as assistant principal at a New Jersey vocational high school. 

As Hoffman and Sanocki highlighted, the Hall of Famer worked hard, listened intently and took advantage of any opportunity that came her way. This drive keyed her success with Maryland Swimming. 

“Swimming is a bit of a solo sport, but you can only be as good as the people you surround yourself with,” Corson Robbins. “So I really feel like I'm representing a lot of other really hard-working swimmers. I think this is something bigger than just me. This is about everyone.”