Khadevis Robinson hopes to form a foundation for a previously dormant team as he takes over LSU’s cross country team as head coach.
The cross country team looks to rebound after struggling in recent years. In the previous five seasons, the men’s and women’s teams have produced only two top-10 finishes in the NCAA South Regional and only two runners have finished top 25 individual in that same timespan.
LSU’s fortunes fell deeper when head coach Mark Elliott left the team to become the director of track and field at Clemson University. But Robinson possesses a confidence that may set the wheels in motion for success down the road.
“We need to develop a mindset in ourselves that things can get done,” Robinson said. “We take small increments and that leads to big improvements.”
Robinson’s professional career includes competing in the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games in the 800 meters and being an eight-time US champion in the 800. He spent the previous two years coaching at Ohio State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
These skill sets combined with Robinson’s personality led Tigers track and field coach Dennis Shaver to hire him.
“The more I looked around for a coach and the more people I talked too, Khadevis’ name kept coming up,” Shaver says. “He brought some unique characteristics I was really impressed by.”
Robinson realizes that with the little emphasis currently put on cross country at LSU, he is starting at ground zero, but he said he believes that with LSU’s name he can start a foundation for the coming years.
With that foundation, Robinson said he hopes that more emphasis can be put on the sport and thus lead to more long distance runners in the area coming to LSU.
The challenge of coaching LSU’s team would only add to the challenges Robinson succeeded in throughout his running career.
In the 2008 US Olympic Trials, the favored Robinson finished fourth in the 800 and failed to qualify for the Olympic games. Rather than retire, he took on the challenge of getting back to the Olympics, which he accomplished in 2012.
“I really enjoy challenges. It does interest me.” Robinson said. “Pressure may bust pipes, but pressure also makes a diamond.”
Despite only being with the team for a few weeks, runners have started believing in their new coach’s message.
“I really enjoy talking to him. I love his personality,” senior runner Julian Parker said. “He’s very inspirational. … He is trying to get us to buy into a system.”
Shaver hired Robinson to coach the middle and long distance runners in Track and Field in addition to the cross country teams. Shaver said he thinks Robinson can become a key component to LSU winning a National Championship in the spring.
The Tigers begin their season in Gainesville, Fla., as they compete in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 14. Until then, Robinson continues to build a foundation with the team, offering life lessons along the way.
“The best piece of advice I can give is that track and field, cross country or any type of running is an analogy for life,” Robinson said. “You get out what you put into it. It’s just that simple.”