Longtime USC, Los Angeles Rams head coach John Robinson dies at 89

Longtime USC and Los Angeles Rams head coach John Robinson died on Monday, both the university and franchise confirmed.

Robinson died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, due to complications from pneumonia. He was 89.

 

Robinson first took over at USC in 1976 after spending time as an assistant with the Trojans and at both Oregon and with the Oakland Raiders. He spent 12 total years at the helm at USC and led it to a national championship during the 1978 campaign. He compiled a 104-35-4 record during his two stints leading the Trojans, which has him as the third-winningest coach in program history. He led the team to five Pac-10 championships and he went 4-0 in the Rose Bowl. Charles White and Marcus Allen each won the Heisman Trophy under his watch.

 

Robinson left USC after the 1982 campaign to make the jump to the NFL, where he took over as the Los Angeles Rams’ head coach for Ray Malavasi. He went 75-68 over his nine seasons with the Rams and reached the NFC championship game twice. He was fired after the 1991 campaign, which marked his second straight losing season.

His 79 total wins with the organization were the most by a single head coach in team history up until last month, when current head coach Sean McVay picked up his 80th career win.