“As the saying goes, ‘A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life,’” says Venus (Harmeyer) Thorne of her former high school assistant basketball coach, Gary Robinson.
The Center Grove community lost a true hero with Robinson’s passing in July. He was a 1973 Center Grove High School (CGHS) graduate, taught social studies for 37 years at Center Grove Middle School Central (CGMSC), and coached middle and high school athletics for 43 years.
“Coach Robinson, or G Rob as he was widely known, is one of the best humans I have had the privilege to know,” says Thorne. “I know G Rob has changed many lives, and I am a better person having him as a part of my life journey.”
Thorne played under Robinson, an assistant coach for the Trojan girls basketball team, which won the state championship in 1996.
“I will always remember how he made people feel,” says Thorne. “G Rob just had a way of making you feel special and important. He always had a way of recognizing the little things you did, and the energy and effort you brought. He made me feel like one of the best players out there.”
Robinson was a player on the CGHS boys basketball squad’s 1972 sectional and regional championship team. He was the unsung hero in CGHS’s upset win over state-ranked Richmond in the semi-state semifinal game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Robinson came off the bench in the fourth quarter to spark his team, making perhaps the most remarkable pass in school history by finding his teammate Guy Ogden for the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
“Gary was a loyal friend,” says Ogden. “He always had your back. As a player, he was a constant cheerleader and always optimistic. He was a Trojan and wanted the best for Center Grove. He strived to keep the school heading down the right path. He was interested in everyone he met and motivated them to succeed.”
Robinson’s high school basketball coach, Tom Jones, recalls his first impressions of his basketball abilities.
“As we started drills I noticed he was slow, couldn’t rebound and was not a great shooter,” says Jones. “However, he was at his best with locker-room talk. He kept the players laughing even if they had skinned knees and were exhausted. As time passed I began to see why Gary’s presence was significant. He carried the team emotionally and mentally. Gary’s personality was filled with positivity and confidence. The students he taught and the athletes he coached were shown how to love school and sports for their entire lives. A great person is gone but never forgotten.”
Besides being a teacher and a coach, Robinson was also very active in his church. Robinson’s basketball teammate and lifelong friend, Rob Richards, says he did not hide his faith, but rather shared it freely.
“I was so proud of him for starting a Bible study group for high school male athletes,” says Richards. “He did so because he knew many wanted a safe place to support and encourage each other. After learning of his death, this study group gathered at the high school football field for prayer and to share their grief. Nearly everyone in White River Township knew the man he was, and the difference he made in people’s lives and the community. His legacy is his relationships and impact on others.”
Robinson coached volleyball and football at CGMSC, whose Athletic Director Jamie Wingler says he was highly regarded and respected.
“Gary was indeed an unbelievable, genuine human being,” says Wingler. “I’ve never met someone who had such a passion for students and education. I will always be amazed at how he treated his players, officials and everyone he encountered. His spirit was always genuinely uplifting.”
Robinson spent time as an assistant boys basketball coach with Zach Hahn at Center Grove High School. He was a player for CGHS’s first regional championship in 1972, and a coach when the Trojans won their second regional in 2019. Robinson was a significant asset to Hahn’s program.
“He had such an infectious personality that he changed the energy level in the room,” says Hahn. “He made everyone feel like they had a special moment with him as he would positively lift them. He knew the relationship was the most important thing in teaching and coaching. Gary will be remembered for his bond with others and his passion for life. He left a legacy that will last for years through the people he impacted by his teaching and coaching. He is a hometown hero who helped CG grow into the wonderful community that it is today.”
