July 16, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
Senior guard Austin Hill walks past the Will Robinson statue in front of Redbird Arena practically every day and he knows why the sculpture was created, that was why Hill was so humbled when he learned about being the recipient of the 2010 Will Robinson Endowed Scholarship.
The scholarship honors Robinson, the late Redbird basketball coach from 1970-75. He was the first African-American Division I college head basketball coach to serve at a predominantly white university. Robinson served as a high school coach, college coach and NBA administrator prior to his passing in April 2008. A 2003 Missouri Valley Conference Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Robinson worked in the Detroit Pistons' front office for nearly 30 years after leaving Illinois State.
"I'm proud to represent the university which hired a pioneer in major college basketball," said Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich. "Coach Robinson was a talented and courageous coach and he paved the way for a lot of other great coaches."
Proceeds from the 1994 Doug Collins Chicago Golf Outing and a special announcement reception established the Will Robinson Scholarship. The scholarship also funds an internship with the Pistons.
Hill, a member of the Valley's 2010 All-Bench Team, played in 30 games last season and started in the first two contests. He ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 6.7 points per game and was named the Valley Newcomer of the Week on Feb. 15. He scored in double-figures six times this season, including a career-best 17 points against Indiana State in the quarterfinal game of the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
"It is a real honor to receive the scholarship in Coach Robinson's name," Hill said. "For an individual who is that strong to come into Illinois State as the first African-American basketball coach in the country, and then to receive an award in his name, and knowing what it stands for, is a big honor."
The Will Robinson Endowed Scholarship is one of 23 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. It is also one of eight fully endowed scholarships in athletics.
For more information about supporting this, or any other Illinois State University endowment scholarships, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
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Will Robinson Endowed Scholarship
2010 - Austin Hill
2008 - Champ Oguchi
2007 - Anthony Slack
2006 - Ronnie Carlwell
2005 - Ronnie Carlwell
2004 - Greg Dilligard
2003 - Vince Greene
2002 - Dana Ford
2001 - Baboucarr Bojang
2000 - Shedrick Ford
1999 - Tarise Bryson
1998 - Kenneth Pierson
1997 - Rico Hill
1996 - Jamar Smiley
