The path that Warren Central’s Bruce Robinson has followed to the 2018 Vicksburg Post basketball Coach of the Year stretches back farther than just this season.

Four years ago, Robinson saw Jalen Allen and Chavis Smith playing with the junior high team and decided to invite them to try out for the varsity. With that, the first lines in the blueprint for Warren Central’s success had been drawn.

The Vikings’ 22-win season in 2017-18 that ended in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs was led by a group of eight seniors. They had built chemistry from their years playing together, and under Robinson, and it paid off.

One of the main things Robinson tried to instill in his team was how to respond to adversity. His assistant coaches, whom Robinson credited with playing a vital role this season, took over when Robinson missed several games at the beginning of the season due to health issues, and the team powered through.

Smith said when Robinson returned the transition was seamless.

“He was tough on us, especially in the playoffs,” said Smith, who won the Post’s Player of the Year award. “We listened to him, whatever the game plan was we had to stick to, and when we stuck to it, we won the game. So he was a big impact, even though he was out the first few games.”

Throughout the season, the Vikings found a way to win more often than not. They were 11-4 on road or neutral courts. They won six of seven games decided by four points or less.

“We won five or six games on buzzer-beaters. We won on the road, and in the past we weren’t really winning on the road,” Robinson said. “I think if you had the number one thing to point out to have success in terms of 22 wins, it’s winning on the road.”

Warren Central had lofty goals of winning the Division 4-6A title and possibly making it all the way to the state championship, but came up short. They still put together a better season than Warren Central has seen in many years. The 22 wins were the most for a Warren Central team this century.

“When we struggled, there were just a few things going on,” Robinson said. “You can win so many games, but it was like riding a runaway stallion: you’re just holding on for the ride. After a loss or two, you can kind of reel them in and they’ll refocus on what we need to do to be successful. We were really trying to win the district. We were two points away from winning that tournament. That was the biggest thing we sold them on, and they really bought in on that.”

In the end, it wasn’t the 22 wins or the postseason success that stood out the most to Robinson.
It was the sense that, after years of mediocrity, Warren Central boys basketball games had become something people were excited about.

“I’m going to be honest, the highlight of the season was when I saw what we had become,” Robinson said. “We were at Provine, and I noticed that all our fans, all our parents were sitting in one group, and that spoke volumes to me to how close knit this program was, and has been all year. I saw that, and that to me means a whole lot, because it’s hard to be successful if everybody’s not buying in, not getting along.”

Vicksburg Post Coaches of the Year
2018 – Bruce Robinson, Warren Central
2017 – Jackie Glass, Warren Central
2016 – Jackie Glass, Warren Central
2015 – Jackie Glass, Warren Central
2014 – Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg
2013 – E.J. Creel, Porters Chapel
2012 – E.J. Creel, Porters Chapel
2011 – Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg
2010 – Jackie Martin-Glass, Warren Central
2009 – Dellie C. Robinson, Vicksburg
2008 – Dellie. C. Robinson, Vicksburg
2007 – Kyt Bonner, St. Aloysius and Penn Majors, St. Al
2006 – Donny Fuller, WC and Drew McBrayer, St. Aloysius
2005 – Donny Fuller, WC and Mike Grzanich, PCA
2004 – Donny Fuller, WC and Jesse Johnson, WC
2003 – Donny Fuller, WC and Dellie C. Robinson, VHS
2002 – Donny Fuller, WC and Dellie C. Robinson, VHS
2001 – Mitchell Willis, PCA and Dellie C. Robinson, VHS
2000 – Mike Coleman, VHS and Dellie C. Robinson, VHS
1999 – Debbie Carr, PCA and Noah Hamilton, St. Aloysius