Sean Robinson will serve as the head coach of the inaugural Drew University men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field programs in 2023-24. Robinson, who coached Drew's track & field teams at the club level in 2022-23, will also enter his third year as the Rangers' cross country head coach in 2023.

Q: After a year of competition at the club level, how excited are your student-athletes to begin the inaugural season of varsity track & field at Drew University this year?
Robinson: Our student-athletes understand the commitment Drew University has made towards the development of our new men's and women's track & field programs and collectively have a sense of urgency to compete at the NCAA Division III Landmark Conference level as Rangers.  

Q: Can you talk about what the upcoming season will look like in terms of practices and meets?
Robinson: Since we already have Simon Forum which is a great indoor track & field facility on campus it will provide numerous student-athletes the opportunity to practice and compete in all track & field events during the difficult winter weather challenges that northern New Jersey typically offers. Our meet schedule during the upcoming season will primarily focus upon fostering success within the Landmark Conference and the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships via college invitationals and qualifying meets held at the the Nike Track & Field Center at the NYC Armory and the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island.

Q: What are your hopes and expectations for Drew Track & Field?
Robinson: My goal is to bring high-level track & field instruction and commitment to Drew University. Although it will take some time to get our program to the Landmark Conference and NCAA Division III Championship level, we do have the vision and resources to attain it.  

Q: Can you talk about your assistant coaching staff for the inaugural track & field teams?
Robinson: Steve Leo will serve as the sprints/jumps coach for our inaugural Drew University men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field programs. Steve brings a wealth of speed and strengthening knowledge to the table serving within the private sector at the high school, collegiate, Olympic, and professional levels over the past 25 years. Other notable athletes he has worked with include Tobin Heath (USA Soccer Gold Medalist), Greg Olsen (NFL veteran of 10 years), and Jack McBride (USA Lacrosse National Team). In 2011, he was hired to work with the New York Jets during their lockout. Our throws coaches will be announced soon as well.

Q: Drew has hosted a series of indoor high school meets inside the Simon Forum for many years. You have been present for a number of those meets...can you talk about your experience coaching in the Forum?
Robinson: Thanks to the efforts of the Morris County Track Coaches Association (MCTCA) and Drew University, Simon Forum has provided numerous indoor track & field opportunities for Northern New Jersey high school athletes to compete during the harsh winter-weather months. The camaraderie among all of the coaches, athletes, and officials involved with the Drew University winter meet series over the years has been worthwhile and memorable.

Q: Can you touch on potential outdoor training locations for the teams?
Robinson: We have numerous high school and college outdoor track facilities within proximity to Drew University that we plan to partner with to conduct outdoor practices. Drew also has several field areas on campus that can be used for the throwing events.

Q: How did you get your start as a coach, and what has kept you in it for this long?
Robinson: I was given an opportunity by legendary coach Jack O'Leary (a graduate of Essex Catholic & Villanova University who set the New Jersey mile record of 4:16.3 in 1964) to take over the reins of the storied Morris Hills cross country and track & field boys programs. My first experience at Morris Hills was standing in front of Thomas Skutka's 1955 mile national record holder plaque in the Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the first American high school boy to break the 4:20 mile barrier with a time of 4:19.5. I understood immediately the importance of the XC/TF tradition established at Hills and made it my mission to serve the program for 24 years.

Q: How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
Robinson: My coaching philosophy is rooted in a holistic approach to training, mentoring, and motivating student-athletes to achieve the best version of themselves. In our sport one size doesn't fit all and I challenge myself daily to customize the methodologies I am using with my athletes to better serve their goals.

Q: How do you feel coaching at the high school level has prepared you for the college world?
Robinson: My experiences coaching at the high school level throughout my tenure at Morris Hills have taught me how to dig a successful season out of the dirt and do the work necessary to become collectively great. In addition, being a high school AP Biology teacher helps me understand the value of academic rigor, and the importance of supporting student-athletes during their educational journey.

Q: What are some of your proudest coaching accomplishments up to this point in your career?
Robinson: Coaching a 4X800 relay team to post 7:31.60 at the Penn Relays and break the national record at the time and then going on to win the 2009 Nike 4x800 National High School Championship certainly qualifies as special. Also, the 2005 Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) meet in Portland, Oregon served as the unofficial team national championship of United States high school cross country and provided Morris Hills the opportunity to place 13th in the U.S. as a team.

Q: What did your selection to the New Jersey State Coaches Association Hall of Fame for Cross Country/Track & Field mean to you?
Robinson: It represents a tremendous amount of passion and hard work towards a sport that positively impacts so many student-athletes mentally, physically and emotionally. I feel blessed to have a supportive family along with great coaches that guided my development as an athlete, leader and human being to set me up for this honor.