E.C. Robinson turned 80 earlier this month. He was head coach at Locke Excessive when Darian Hagen and Sirr Parker had been standout Metropolis Part soccer gamers within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. Then he went to teach at College.
Now one in all his sons, Bryan, is head coach at College, with one other son, Jason, the offensive coordinator, and he’s serving as a proud “advisor.”
Collectively, they’re attempting to resurrect a College program that was right down to lower than 25 gamers three years in the past. The roster has elevated to greater than 70, with the return of a junior varsity staff, and the Robinsons are dedicated to “restoring pleasure” in this system.
College coach Bryan Robinson (left) and brother Jason Robinson, an assistant, with their father, 80-year-old EC Robinson, a former Locke and College coach.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
It’s a real Los Angeles story, with Bryan calling it “about homecoming, mentorship and generational impression.”
Like his father, Bryan grew to become a trainer. He has been making frequent visits to Emerson Center College, the feeder faculty for College, attempting to persuade college students to come back out for soccer.
When he was taking part in some 20 years in the past, most of his classmates began in youth soccer. Lately he should train from scratch, displaying youngsters how one can placed on shoulder pads, block and deal with.
“It’s not a whole lot of guys who’ve performed,” he stated. “It’s enjoyable but additionally difficult. I get to instill all our soccer data whereas they’re uncooked.”
Bruce Davis, a former UCLA All-American linebacker who went on to win the Tremendous Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, can also be on the teaching workers.
“My brother, coach Davis and I are large on growth,” Bryan stated. “We’re not simply herding them on the market. We’re actually spending time fine-tuning these athletes, actually growing them to allow them to compete on the next stage.
College quarterback Jeremy Pacheco (left) and defensive again Tareq Abdul.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
The staff gained its opening sport towards Lincoln 21-19, with junior Tareq Abdul making two interceptions and sophomore linebacker D’Elliott Jones contributing 12 tackles. Quarterback Jeremy Pacheco returned from a knee harm in 2024 to throw a landing move.
This previous week, College improved to 2-0 with a 19-8 win over Fremont. Abdul had one other interception, returning it for a landing.
EC Robinson stated the sport has modified for the reason that Nineteen Eighties, when the main focus was on operating the soccer. Now passing is distinguished, even in youth soccer.
He largely stays within the background, observing and providing recommendation when wanted.
“I did loads after they first received the job a pair years in the past,” he stated. “I needed to verify they had been doing the fitting issues with the youngsters. Paperwork is a giant problem, ensuring the youngsters are cleared. Throughout the sport, I monitor whenever you name a timeout. I’m attempting to verify they be taught observe construction.”
It’s fairly enjoyable when your father is serving as a mentor and is shut by to reply questions on a sport he has taught for many years.
As Bryan stated, “We’re not simply constructing a staff — we’re restoring pleasure in a program with deep roots in Los Angeles soccer historical past.”
