VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

(Photo Credit: www.VermontScoreboard.com)

Essex/Burlington

Contributor- coach

Inducted 2013

Jean Robinson was one of the most successful coaches in Vermont girl's high school basketball history. Her 34-season high school coaching career spanned from 1959-65 at Burlington High School to 1971-2002 at Essex High School, where she combined to coach 10 state champions. Her overall won-loss record of 623-174 (.782) is one of the state's as well as the nation's best. In 1998, she was named 1998 National Girls' High School Basketball Coach of the Year by the National Federation of Coaches.

At Essex, she guided the Hornets to eight Vermont Division I State Championships in 16 trips to the title game, including five straight championships from 1994 to 1998 that featured three unbeaten seasons. 

Her teams dominated the decade of the '90s, winning six state titles in eight final game appearances. From 1993-94 to 1996-97, the Hornets won 62 consecutive games. In a five-year span from 1993-1998, they were an amazing 115-4. 

A 1959 graduate of UVM, Robinson began her high school coaching and teaching career immediately after graduation at Burlington. From 1959 to 1965 she led BHS to an 85-18 record including state titles in 1961 and 1965. Moving over to Essex, Robinson took over the fledging Hornets' program in 1970-71 and along with her state titles, captured 12 Metro League crowns.

In 2011, the center court at the Essex High gymnasium was named in her honor.

Other honors in addition to her 1998 national coach of the year award: NFICA Vermont Coach of the Year (1991, 1997, 1998); NFICA Section I (New England) Coach of the Year (1998); Johnson State College Foundation Award (1998); UVM Athletic Hall of Fame (1999); Essex High School Distinguished Service Award (1999); Vermont Coaches’ Association 600th Win Award (2001); NVAC 25th Anniversary Coaches Award (2002); Vermont Principals’ Association Hall of Fame (2003); New England Basketball Hall of Fame (2004)