First Division 1 black coach dies at 96

NORMAL, Ill., April 28 (UPI) -- Will Robinson, first African American head coach in U.S. Division I college basketball, died Monday at age 96.

Robinson was a successful high school coach before heading to Illinois State in 1970 to break the color barrier among Division I basketball coaches at age 60.

Robinson left Illinois State after the 1975-76 season. He became a Detroit Pistons scout before retiring in 2003.

Robinson was inducted into the Michigan High School Basketball Hall of Fame and Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame. In 1992, he received the John W. Bunn award, given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the game of basketball.