Obama's brother-in-law dismissed at Oregon State
Craig Robinson, the brother of Michelle Obama, was unable to take his team to the NCAA Tournament in six seasons.
OREGON STATE yesterday fired basketball coach Craig Robinson after six seasons without making the NCAA Tournament.
The brother-in-law of President Obama, Robinson had a solid start in Corvallis, taking a program that had lost 21 straight Pac-12 games to an 18-win season in 2008-09.
The Beavers' results under Robinson were uneven after that, with Oregon State finishing no better than fifth in the Pac-12 in his six seasons, including 10th this year.
Athletic director Bob De Carolis announced on March 28 that Robinson would return for a seventh season, even penning a strongly worded letter of support for him. The more De Carolis thought about it, the more he realized it was a mistake.
The brother of First Lady Michelle Obama, Robinson was hired during President Obama's first presidential campaign in 2008 and gave the university some added attention that summer, when he introduced his sister at the Democratic National Convention.
Oregon State won 21 games in 2011-12, but went 7-11 in conference. After going 14-18 in 2012-13, the Beavers were 16-16 this season, including 8-10 in the Pac-12, and lost to Radford at home in the CBI. Robinson went 94-105 overall with Oregon State after spending two seasons as Brown's coach.
Oregon State has not made the NCAA Tournament since 1990.
Sport Stops
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Philly File
* Temple sophomore golfer Brandon Matthews has been selected to play in the NCAA championships. Matthews, of DuPont, Pa., is the first Temple individual to be selected and the first Owls participant since the 1997 team qualified. Matthews will be one of 10 individuals and 10 teams who will play in the NC State regional in Raleigh, N.C., May 15-17.
* La Salle has named Matt Bloom as director of men's basketball operations, coach John Giannini announced. Bloom replaces Sean Neal, who was promoted to assistant coach.