KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee football is rich in tradition and Vols Wire will explore the program by examining each head coach’s tenure.
This installment will focus on the two-year stint of Harvey Robinson, who replaced the legendary Robert Neyland. Robinson served as UT’s head coach in 1953 and 1954.
When Neyland retired after the 1952 season due to health reasons, Tennessee called upon one of its own to take the reins of the program.
Robinson was a quarterback for the Volunteers in 1931 and 1932. He also served as an assistant under his predecessor. He coached the Vols’ freshman team from 1946-48 before coaching the backfield from 1949-52.
It is never easy to replace a legend and Robinson certainly found this to be the case. In two years as head coach in Knoxville, he compiled a record of 10-10-1, going 6-4 during his first season.
After leaving Tennessee, Robinson was an assistant coach at Florida. He would return to UT in 1960. He served as UT’s backfield coach from 1960-63 under Bowden Wyatt and Jim McDonald.
He would later become a scout in the National Football League. He began his coaching career at Knoxville Central High School.