Detroit Pershing Coach Will Robinson, One of the Most Influential Coaches of His – Or Any – Era
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The 1970 MHSAA title served as a fitting farewell gift for Detroit Pershing Coach Will Robinson, one of the most influential coaches of his – or any – era. photo courtesy Schwendemann of Mike Detroit Pershing’s title teams of 1967 and 1970 left lasting impressions on the Michigan prep basketball scene; Will Robinson left even more of an impact on anyone who laced up a pair of sneakers for the veteran coach In an effort to promote educational athletics. In his eyes, it was essential to Haywood would anchor the Gold medal athletics by showcasing some of the great prepare his students for a world that often team in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, teams of past years, the Michigan High only saw skin color. then star at the University of Detroit before School Athletic Association instituted a Peppered with an amazing array of tal- jumping into professional ball before his ent, the 1967 Doughboys had the size, college eligibility had elapsed. Haywood’s program called “Legends Of The Games” strength and the ability to overpower oppo- decision to leave college early altered the in 1997. This year, the 1967 and 1970 nents. The team roared out of the starting college and professional landscape, neces- Detroit Pershing teams will be honored gate with their eyes focused on the finish sitating a clause commonly referred to as halftime of the Class A Final. line – an MHSAA title. In the eyes of their the “Hardship” rule in the years to follow. coach, Will Robinson, the only team capa- His decision was a prudent one. His pro he story of Detroit Pershing High ble of stopping Pershing was the career began with Rookie of the Year and School's 1967 and 1970 basket- Doughboys themselves. MVP honors during his single season in the Tball seasons are striking illustra- “Mr. Robinson put that team together to ABA, followed by 12 years in the NBA tions of the magic of high school basket- his liking, I believe,” said Ralph Simpson, a where he would earn four trips to the All- ball. One is a tale of the expected: a team 6-5 junior transfer from Southeastern Star game and one NBA championship with budding superstars that, once it got whose father had also played for Robinson ring. out of its own backyard, was expected to in the 40s. “We had a great team.” Still, the team was far from a two-man win it all and then delivered. The second is Along with Simpson, who would go on squad. The Doughboys also featured 6-7 a chronicle of the unexpected: a team of to star as a pro in the American Basketball senior Jim Connally, who later played at promise that stole a crown for its departing Association before finishing his career in Bowling Green, Wiley Davis Jr., a guard coach. Both are stories of kids playing ball the National Basketball Association, the who joined Haywood at U of D, Granville in an era of racial tension for a coach who Doughboys boasted 6-8 high school All- Cook, later a player at Eastern Michigan, believed that his job involved more than just American Spencer Haywood. At age 19, as well as regulars Lamarr Franklin and Eric Witzke. Waiting in the wings, were 5-11 guard Marvin Lane and 6-0 sophomore John Lockard. “We wanted to put the fear in “We had a bunch of guys that could you,” Spencer Haywood dunk the ball,” noted Lane, who quarter- backed the Pershing football team and (right) would say of himself would later play major league baseball for and his 1967 teammates. the Detroit Tigers. “I believe five guys on that team ultimately played professional More often than not, they did. sports.” “In our case, the whole team had a demeanor that we took on,” said Lockard. there were not going to be any other let- “Spencer would say, 'Tear it down,' and we downs. We were going to do what ever it would practice power dunks. We wanted to took.” intimidate. To be honest, I think most of the As if it were scripted, Northwestern and opponents were beat before the game Pershing met again in the opening round of started. We would run through our the MHSAA Regionals. As Pershing pregame drills and look back to see the promised, the result differed. opponents, lined up, watching us.” Both Haywood and Simpson scored 29 “We did tear it down once, and it wasn't points, while Cook added 14 as the because we hung on the rim” recalled Doughboys downed Northwestern, 77-71, Haywood, laughing about the incident. “It before 1,000 fans at Detroit Redford, in was a dunk in warm-ups and delayed the another locally televised game. game for about an hour. We wanted to put Following the win, Pershing cruised all the fear in you.” the way into the Semifinals, as 15 players Robinson knew he had a special team saw action in the team's 89-59 trouncing of in the '67 squad. As with all his teams, he Warren Fitzgerald in the Quarterfinals at continued to emphasize the importance of Eastern Michigan. discipline and hard work. He did his best to Two nights later, Haywood hit 35 points, keep his players occupied and out of trou- Simpson 23 and Connally 14 in an 84-78 ble late into the evenings. Players were win over Detroit Catholic Central in the expected to play more than one sport dur- Semifinals, setting up the title game with ing the school year. There was no time for Flint Central. girlfriends, and certainly no slacking in the The Indians went in with the intent of classroom. Education was the name of the stopping Haywood, and in doing so, they game. Sports might provide an avenue to helped Simpson into the record books. High School Pershing continue one's education, but it was not the Haywood spent the night ripping down only avenue available. He preached those rebounds and feeding passes to Simpson. values throughout his career. The budding superstar overwhelmed the A squad with this much talent present- Indians with a Finals record 43 points in the ed its own set of problems. Perhaps the 90-66 win. biggest challenge for Robinson involved “One superstar helped make another the realization of a long-standing dream for keeping the team humble and focused for here Saturday night,” proclaimed Schram in those who had been denied the same four quarters of basketball. He received account of the game the next day. chance during their playing days. some assistance from the prep writer Hal The final margin was somewhat decep- For Robinson, who earlier in the day Schram of the Detroit Free Press, a.k.a The tive. With just under six minutes to play, the became the first African-American to Swami. Doughboys clung to a six-point lead before receive the Michigan High School Coaches Detroit Northwestern – not Pershing – exploding, led by Simpson’s 14 fourth- Association Coach of the Year award, it carried the Swami's cherished No. 1 rank- quarter points. was his first MHSAA title, but it would not ing in the weekly prep poll throughout the “My thought was if you come after me, be his last. regular season. Featuring Curtis Jones, the I'll just throw it out to Ralph,” recalled During the 1970 season, after 28 years team's leading scorer and a playground Haywood, who despite being double and of service to the youth of the Detroit Public legend in later years, and all-city basketball triple teamed, still finished with 24 points Schools, Robinson had accepted the head selection, John Mayberry, (another future including 14-18 shooting from the free coaching position at Illinois State Major League Baseball player), throw line. “I was the captain. After that loss University. Named the first black head Northwestern backed it up with a 63-61 vic- to Northwestern, we decided that if a guy coach of a Division I school, Robinson tory over the No. 3 ranked Doughboys in a got hot, we would go to him. No ego. What would head off to the world of big-time col- city league championship matchup of the was incredible is that Ralph’s shots never lege athletics. His departure would come undefeated. Jones nailed the game-winner hit the rim. They were beautiful shots. with the end of the Pershing's 1970 basket- with a shot from the top of the key before a “It was a huge growing spurt for me,” ball season sold-out crowd at Osborn High School. The continued Haywood. “I came into the sea- While Robinson had every hope of gym seated just under 1,000, but a metro son with All-American honors (as a junior) going out a winner, few expected much Detroit television audience numbered thou- and started the season with certain expec- from the Doughboys, who had missed out sands more. tations, but I learned to accept what was on the Detroit Public School League play- “That loss did something to our team. It happening. After that Northwestern loss, I offs with an 8-4 regular-season record. lit a fire under us,” said Simpson, who would do whatever it took to win. We were Mid-year graduation of their top two play- scored 19 points in that contest. “We not going to lose. Never again.” ers, Paul Seal and Walt Williamson, (both absolutely knew it was going to be a tight It was the first PSL school to win an destined for the gridiron at the University of ball game.