Maryland head women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese announced the hiring of assistant coach Shay Robinson in July 2014. Over his six seasons in College Park, Robinson has helped the Terrapins achieve consistent success both in the Big Ten and on the national scene.
In his six seasons in College Park, Robinson has helped the Terrapins to a record of 179-27 (.869), 92-12 (.885) in conference play, three 30-win seasons, five Big Ten regular season and four tournament titles, five NCAA Tournaments, two Sweet Sixteens and the 2015 Final Four. In 2015-16, the Terrapins led the country - men’s and women’s teams - with their rebounding margin (+15.1).
In Robinson’s first season at Maryland, the 2014-15 campaign, the Terrapins earned a record of 34-3 on the season and went a perfect 18-0 in Big Ten play - just the second time in history a team went 18-0 in conference games. The Terps capped the regular season off with their first Big Ten Tournament championship and won a program-record 24 straight games. Maryland earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beat Duke, then No. 2-seeded Tennessee to advance to its second consecutive Final Four.
The Terps continued their Big Ten dominance in 2015-16, winning 31 games and sweeping the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles.
Maryland won 30 games for the third straight season in 2016-17 and also won its third straight Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. After a Sweet Sixteen appearance, seniors Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brionna Jones were drafted 6th and 8th overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft.
In 2018-19, the Terrapins went 29-5, winning 12 games to start the year, including a dominant 85-61 win at No. 10 South Carolina in November. The Terps won 11 of 12 games to end the regular season and win their fourth Big Ten regular season title in five years.
In 2019-20, the Terrapins earned a record of 28-4, winning 17 straight games to end the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament title. They clinched a share of their fifth Big Ten championship in six years with a record of 16-2 in conference play. Six Terrapins earned All-Big Ten honors - a program record. The Terps finished the season ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press and RPI rankings and were projected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
On the recruiting end, Robinson helped the Terps sign the No. 1 recruiting class in the class of 2016, the No. 4 class of 2017 and the No. 3 class in 2019. They signed the No. 2 overall recruit, Angel Reese, in 2019.
Four Terrapins have drafted into the WNBA in Robinson’s six years in College Park, including Laurin Mincy (27th overall, 2015), Brene Moseley (21st overall, 2016), Walker-Kimbrough (6th overall, 2017) and Jones (8th overall, 2017).
Robinson came to College Park from Kansas, where he spent the 2013-14 season. Prior to his time in Lawrence, Robinson worked at Air Force and worked as the head instructor at one of the most elite basketball performance centers in the country, the EDGE Training Facility in Orlando.
Robinson served for five years as the assistant director and head instructor at EDGE Training Facility, known as the premier training facility in the state of Florida. Robinson helped manage daily basketball operations while performing individual and team skill development sessions, camps and clinics. His vast clientele ranged from beginning players to elite high school, college and professional athletes in the NBA and European Leagues.
A native of Greensboro, N.C., Robinson worked the coaching ranks for many years. He coached the girls’ basketball team at Viera High School during the 2010-11 season, helping the squad win its first district championship while posting a 22-3 overall record. Robinson also served as an assistant coach with the boys’ varsity program at Viera from 2006-09.
During the 2009-10 season, Robinson served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Brevard Community College. There, he was in charge of guard and post player development, while assisting with offensive and defensive philosophies. Other responsibilities included recruiting, team film sessions, scouting, academic monitoring and mentorship of student athletes.
Robinson graduated from James B. Dudley High School before enlisting in the Air Force in 1996. Robinson served more than eight years on active duty in the Air Force. While enlisted, he deployed on numerous tours of duty, including three tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, spending time as a Weapons Load Crew member on F-16s, as well as Special Operations Senior Command Post Controller.
During his military career, Robinson received various medals and was awarded the distinguished John Levitow Award in 2002. He was also named Air Force Special Operations Command, Command Post Controller of the Year in 2002-03, before his honorable discharge in 2004.
In August 2007, Robinson earned a bachelor of science in sports and fitness with a specialization in coaching theory from the University of Central Florida. He also holds a master of science in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University (2010). Robinson is an active member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) organization.
Robinson is married to his wife, Tonya.
