Katie Robinson has revealed that she will not return to the women’s swimming & diving coaching staff at Stanford next season, the inevitable ‘other shoe’ to the program’s announcement on Monday that it had hired Annie Lazor for that role.
Stanford previously carried three swim coaches on its women’s staff.
It’s hard to come to a conclusion to end something that’s been the biggest part of your life for so long. It’s been an emotional process but I can proudly say I’m at peace with it and overcome with gratitude for what my swimming/coaching journey has taught me but more so from the people I got to meet along the way .
I gave my whole heart, cared more than I knew was possible and ambitiously chased dreams in the hopes of opening up pathways for others. Now it’s time to hand over the reigns to some *amazing* coaches – not just at Stanford (Go Card!!) but around the globe ❤️ Godspeed, my friends.
As for what’s next with me – a little radical sabbatical to rejuvenate my spirit is in order. Catch me on the trails, on the rock walls and visiting friends and family. We have one life to live, and I still intend on living fully.
Robinson confirmed to SwimSwam that she will be stepping away from coaching for a “career pivot.”
Robinson was offered the position but declined it, thanking Notre Dame’s incoming coach Chris Lindauer for the “support, patience and understanding he’s shown me through this process.”
She told SwimSwam that her relationship with Lindauer was almost enough for her to stay, but that ultimately she has other personal goes that she wants to pursue outside of coaching.
Robinson says she is going to take a “little radical sabbatical to rejuvenate (her) spirit,” before taking on a new career path, though she wasn’t ready to say what that new path would be yet.
Robinson took the lead role in day-to-day coaching Stanford swimmers after head coach Greg Meehan departed the program to take over as the USA Swimming National Team Director, though Meehan continued to write most of the workouts.
Robinson spent two seasons as the associate head coach at Stanford after five seasons at Northwestern, where she began in 2018 as an associate head coach before being promoted to Director of Swimming and Diving (head coach) in 2020, overseeing the men’s and women’s programs. She is one of the only women to have overseen a combined men’s and women’s program at the Power 4/5 level.
During Robinson’s three-year head coaching tenure at Northwestern, the Wildcat men’s and women’s programs combined to produce 28 school records in addition to earning their highest in-season CSCAA national poll ranking in school history. The women placed 16th in 2021, representing their best team finish in over 25 years while the men scored points at the 2022 NCAA Championships for the first time in five seasons.
Prior to Northwestern, Robinson spent five seasons as the head coach at Tulane from 2013-2018. Before that, she spent two seasons as an assistant at Rutgers (2011-2013) and three as an assistant at Virginia (2008-2011). She also spent a season as a graduate assistant at Pacific in 2008, where Meehan was the head coach.
Robinson was a standout collegiate performer at Texas (2003-07), where she finished as an 11-time All-American and three-time Big 12 champion in the 200-yard butterfly title while being appointed team captain in 2006-07. Robinson earned a spot at the NCAA Championships every year as a Longhorn and led Texas to four top-10 finishes, including sixth-place showings in both 2005 and 2007. As a senior, Robinson was named first-team ESPN The Magazine All-District VI and second-team Academic All-America.
Robinson claimed the Jody Conradt Endowed Scholarship in 2005, the Houston Texas Exes Endowed Scholarship in 2006 and the V.F. “Doc” Neuhaus Endowed Presidential Scholarship, the Texas women’s athletic department’s highest endowed honor, in 2007.
A native of Dillsboro, Indiana, Robinson completed her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Texas in December 2007.
It is possible to completely understand that someone needs to step away from the sport and take whatever break is needed to stay healthy, and somewhat selfishly hope they find a way back to the sport in some capacity because the sport is better with her as a part of it. Katie is just a fundamentally decent person and I wish he all the best.
two female associate head coaches leaving the sport all together (King from Wisc.) – big loss for the swim community!
Congrats on a great career. Enjoy time to recharge your batteries. Thank you for all you have done for the sport of swimming.
All the best Katie. All the best
Well deserved
Class act through and through! I recruited you, coached you and best of all, worked alongside you! Thanks for everything you’ve given to the sport. All the best to you!
15 years is a long time to do anything, don’t blame her for pondering the rest of her life
So the entire women’s coaching staff has been replaced? I’m really curious to see how they do this season and how they bounce back from last year’s great season, when everyone doubted them.