Binghamton hires former Michigan assistant Robie to steer wrestling program
John Hartrick/Binghamton Sports Information
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton University has tabbed former University of Michigan assistant coach Tony Robie as its new head wrestling coach, the school announced today.
Robie, a two-time collegiate All-American and 1997 NCAA runner-up, was chosen from a final pool of 14 candidates. He will lead the Bearcats wrestling program back to the mat beginning in the 2005-06 season. The program had been discontinued after the 2003-04 school year because of budget constraints before the State University of New York provided $230,000 in additional funds specifically earmarked to reinstate the program.
“We were very fortunate to have a pool of highly qualified candidates for this position, “Director of Athletics Joel Thirer said. “It was not easy for the search committee to make a recommendation, as everyone we interviewed brought different professional strengths with their candidacy. Ultimately, Tony was the unanimous first choice of the committee, and I concurred with their recommendation. Tony brings experience from a winning program at a Division I university that, like Binghamton, is highly regarded for its academics. We’re all looking forward to Tony leading Binghamton’s intercollegiate wrestling program.”
In six years as a Division I assistant coach, Robie has helped nurture 23 All-Americans, nine Academic All-Americans and one national champion. As the Wolverines’ top assistant coach, Robie recruited three top-10 classes, including the No. 2 ranked class last year. His one-on-one work with Michigan student-athlete Ryan Bertin culminated in Bertin’s 2003 NCAA championship – the school’s first national champion in 18 years. In all, Michigan earned national top-10 status all four years that Robie was a coach.
In addition, his dedication and influence off the mat resulted in the wrestling team winning the 2003 community service award at the school.
A world-class wrestler in his own right, Robie racked up a 126-23 record on the collegiate mat. A two-time captain for former Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner at Edinboro University, Robie was a three-time Eastern Wrestling League Champion and a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion. As a senior, Robie led the Fighting Scots to a sixth place national finish – the highest in school history. He ranks fourth on the school’s all-time wins list and went on to earn a bronze medal at the 1998 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships.
A native of Erie, Pa., Robie was a Dean’s List student at Edinboro, and received the school’s Academic Achievement Award before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1997.
He also served as an assistant coach at West Virginia (1998-99) and Edinboro (1999-00).
Robie will join the University on January 27.
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