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Will Robinson and Doug Collins

Will Robinson & Doug Collins Statue

Artist

Lou Cella

Title

Will Robinson and Doug Collins

Year

2009

Acquisition Category

Dedicated

Artwork Type

Statue

Artwork Material

Bronze

Designation

In memoriam of Will Robinson and Doug Collins

Donor

Don Franke Family (Belinda, Matt, Keisha)

Artwork Location

Visibility

Outdoor

Location

Redbird Arena (RBA)

Location Description

North of Redbird Arena

Campus Zone

Northwest

ISU Artwork Map

Identification Plaque

Robinson became the first African-American NCAA Division I Men’s basketball coach on February 27, 1970, when he was hired by then-Illinois State University Director of Athletics Dr. Milt Weisbecker. Robinson hailed from Steubenville, Ohio, and was a legendary inner city Basketball Coach in Detroit. He coached the Redbirds for five seasons, with each one resulting in a winning record. Robinson recorded a 71-58 mark at Illinois State before joining the Detroit Pistons in their front Office.

Robinson’s most heralded played at Illinois State was Doug Collins, a product of Benton Illinois. In his three-year varsity career, Collins averaged 29.1 points per game and totaled 2,240 career points, while being named both an All-American and an Academic All-American following each season he played. He was the first overall selection in the 1973 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, represented at the 1972 Munich Olympics and is a member of the Academic All-America Hall of Fame.

Description

The life-sized bronze statue depicts and honors Illinois State’s basketball duo of head basketball coach Will Robinson, in one knee on a basketball, and player Doug Collins, alongside. It was made based on a photograph at the Rotblatt Amrany Fine Art Studio in northern Chicago, and now It stands on a four-foot granite pedestal with both Will Robinson and Doug Collins names carved.

Reference Sources

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