Story Courtesy John Maxwell, Florida Athletics
Florida Head Women’s Basketball Coach Tammi Reiss announced today that the team has hired former Louisville Associate Coach Shay Robinson as the Gators’ new associate head coach. Robinson brings with him a reputation as a keen developer of talent and a relentless recruiter who is devoted to the total success of the student-athlete both on and off the court.
“I am so excited to welcome Shay to the Gators family,” said Reiss. “There is no one I would rather begin this new journey with than this man. I have known Shay for over 15 years and it became apparent very quickly that our passion, moral compass and coaching philosophies were in complete alignment. Shay is a relationship builder and dream merchant of young woman. He is a relentless worker, extraordinary recruiter and above all an elite skill developer. He will make an immediate impact on our program, our university and most importantly our student athletes. I can’t wait to go to war in the SEC with Shay, and with his abilities, help elevate Gator women’s basketball back to national prominence. Welcome Shay, and Go Gators!”
“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to work alongside Coach Reiss at the University of Florida,” Robinson said. “Her passion, vision, and commitment to excellence make this a truly special program to be a part of. She has been a winner at every level and I have the utmost confidence in her ability as a leader. I’m ready to embrace the challenge, grow every day, and give everything I have to help build something great. Florida is also a second home for me, as my wife is from there, and my basketball career started there, so I have a tremendous amount of pride in being back. Go Gators!”
Over the last four seasons, Robinson helped lead the Cardinals to four NCAA Tournament berths, including a spot in the Regional Finals in 2023, and the Regional Semifinals in 2026. Louisville won at least 22 games in each of his four seasons, and the Cardinals overall record during that span is 101-41.
Sustained success like that for which Louisville has become known starts with recruiting, and Robinson helped the Cardinals to a pair of top-25 recruiting classes during his time in Louisville, including the sixth-best in the nation in 2024. Three of the ‘Ville’s top five scorers this year, and five of the top nine, were members of that famed class of 2024.
Louisville has also had two players drafted into the WNBA over the past two seasons in Hailey Van Lith in 2025 (No. 11 to Chicago) and Kiki Jefferson in 2024 (No. 31 to Minnesota), with several members of the current Cardinals roster expected to play in the W over the coming years.
Prior to making his way to Louisville, Robinson helped lead his teams to six NCAA Tournaments, including two trips to the Sweet 16 and a trip to the 2015 Final Four, five regular season conference championships and four conference tournament championships. He mentored four WNBA Draft picks, including two top 10 selections, and helped bring in top five recruiting classes in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
In his two seasons at Ole Miss, Robinson helped lead the Rebels to the WNIT Championship game in 2020-21 and a 23-9 record and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 seasons in 2021-22. He was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2021-22 season.
Robinson’s most notable pupil in his two seasons at Ole Miss was Honorable Mention All-American and First-Team All-SEC member Shakira Austin, who was selected third overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2022 WNBA draft. Austin played her first two seasons at Maryland, where Robinson was previously an assistant coach.
Prior to Ole Miss, Robinson was an assistant coach at Maryland. In his six seasons in College Park (2014-20) Maryland went 179-27 overall and 92-12 in Big Ten play, while recording three 30-win seasons, and winning five Big Ten regular season titles and four conference tournament titles. The Terrapins were equally successful in the postseason, earning five NCAA Tournament berths that yielded two Sweet 16 appearances and a trip to the 2015 Final Four.
On the recruiting end, Robinson helped the Terps sign the No. 1 recruiting class in 2016, the No. 4 class in 2017 and the No. 3 class in 2019.
Four Terrapins were drafted into the WNBA in Robinson’s six years, including Laurin Mincy (27th overall, 2015), Brene Moseley (21st overall, 2016), Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (sixth overall, 2017) and Brionna Jones (eighth overall, 2017).
Robinson made his way 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 the 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.
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 and 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 in 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.
Tagged with: SEC
