Coach Arnie Robinson Named 2012 Distinguished Alumnus
Arnie Robinson began his track career as a stand-out athlete at Morse High School, In 1967, he enrolled at San Diego Mesa College, where he set school records in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump for track and field. After graduation from Mesa, Arnie earned a scholarship to SDSU, where he won the 1970 NCAA long jump champion title.
The long-jump champion achieved even greater fame in his post-college years. A winner of the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Trials long jump, Arnie Robinson was third at the 1972 Olympic Games, and took the gold medal in 1976. He was the 1971 Pan American Games champion and was second in 1975. A veteran of 10 international competitions, Robinson was also the first World Cup long jump champion in 1977. Overall, he won seven national long jump titles, six of them outdoors. From 1976 to 1978, he was the top-ranked long jumper in the world with a career best of 27' 4 3/4" in 1976. He retired after the 1979 season, returning to coach at Mesa College.
During his 25 years as head coach at Mesa, Coach Robinson’s teams won 15 conference championships, 10 regional championships appearances, and two state championship appearances with one state title. He also coached six state champion student-athletes, with one competing in the Olympic trials and another, Felix Sanchez, winning a gold medal in Athens for the 400-meter hurdles.
A pillar of the track and field community, Coach Robinson was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000; the California Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame Track and Field in 2007; and the San Diego Breitbard Hall of Fame in 1984. Always active and involved, he has volunteered to operate the timing systems for major track and field meets, and served as the Foothill Conference representative and at other conference and state track and field meets.
Coach Robinson is most proud of the very active role he has played in the youth track and field community. He was the USATF Youth Chairman from 1994-2004 and the Association Vice President from 1997 to 2004. He was instrumental inspiring thousands of young athletes, establishing youth track in San Diego and striving to promote the sport by hosting youth track and field meets.
Career Highlights
PR (Personal Record): 27-4 3/4 (8.35m)
Olympic Gold Medal, 1976 27-4 3/4 (8.35m)
Olympic Bronze Medal, 1972 26-4 1/4 (8.03m)
World Cup Gold Medal, 1977 26-10 1/2 (8.19m)
Pan-Am Gold Medal, 1971 26-3 3/4A (8.02m)
U.S. National Champion 1978: 27-4w
1977: 27-0 1/2
1976: 27-3 1/2
1975: 26-5
1972: 26-5 3/4
1971: 26-10 3/4
NCAA Champion, 1970 25-10 1/2
Calling all Olympians!
THE 2012 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD. Thanks to all who submitted nominations for the 2012 Mesa College Distinguished Alumni Award. The deadline was Wednesday, December 21, 201; nominations are now closed. Please return to this site soon for more information on the 2012 recipient.
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50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. Did you know that San Diego Mesa College will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2014? Opportunities for alumni to become involved in the celebration are being developed. We invite you to become involved, contact Lina Heil at lheil@sdccd.edu.
ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES: We are also looking for success stories for "Alumni Profiles." If you would like to be featured, or suggest another alum for consideration, please contact Lina Heil at lheil@sdccd.edu.
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Click here to join the San Diego Mesa College Alumni Group on Linked-in, the popular business-related social networking site. The group was created by Mesa College alumnus Jeremy Sanders. Jeremy received his AS and AA degrees in Business Administration and Transfer Studies in 2007.