Like many coaches, Bruce Robinson has lived in quite a few places during a 30-year career. A select few have earned a special place in his heart.

“I often tell people there’s three places I consider home — Clinton, where we reside; Yazoo City, where we worked a long time; and Vicksburg. Those are three communities we really enjoyed working in,” Robinson said.

So when the stars aligned for Robinson to spend what might be the last few years of his career in one of those places, he jumped at the chance.

Earlier this summer, Robinson was hired as the boys’ basketball coach at Porter’s Chapel Academy. It’s a new school for him, but in a place he spent a decade at. Robinson was Warren Central’s boys’ coach from 2012-21.

“Just to come back here is an honor,” the 59-year-old Clinton native said. “I worked in Vicksburg a long time, and to think that when I come available they would bring me in. That’s big.”

Robinson won more than 100 games during his tenure at Warren Central, and nearly 200 in his career, and was the 2018 Vicksburg Post Coach of the Year for Warren County. He’s also had head coaching jobs at Madison Central, Clinton and Greenville, and spent 10 years as an assistant at Yazoo City.

He retired from the public school system in 2021, then became an assistant at MAIS member Jackson Prep and helped it win a state title. Last season he was the girls’ head coach at Clinton Christian.

Robinson said Clinton Christian decided not to renew his contract for the 2024-25 school year.

“He told me the board wanted to move in a different direction and I said OK,” Robinson said. “At this point in my career, when the board wants to move in a different direction there’s no need to question it.”

During his time further east on I-20, Robinson said he maintained his connection to Vicksburg. When Porter’s Chapel was looking for a new boys’ coach at the same time he was looking for a new job, it felt like fate.

“It’s an inviting community. No community is perfect, but I enjoy it over here and I just enjoy the river,” Robinson said.

Robinson will take the reins of PCA’s boys’ program from Casey Fisher. Fisher coached both the boys’ and girls’ teams last season, and will remain as head coach of the latter.

Robinson will lead the boys’ varsity and junior high teams, and be Fisher’s assistant with the girls. He’ll also coach health and physical education classes.

“I will do whatever they need me to do. One thing I’ve learned about MAIS schools is you wear many different hats,” Robinson said with a laugh.

Robinson will inherit a team that’s been on a recent upswing. Porter’s Chapel reached the MAIS Class 3A semifinals and the Overall Tournament in 2022, then finished 17-9 and reached the Class 3A state tournament again in 2023. It had a 13-7 record and reached the South State tournament in 2024.

Robinson said he sees “good potential” with the Eagles, and for the school as a whole.

“I talked with (head of school and athletics director Blake Purvis) and I guess we were interviewing each other. When he talked about the vision for the school, I could see that clear path — especially in athletics,” Robinson said. “The tradition is good over here with being successful in more than just one sport.”

Robinson said while on-court success is important, he’s looking beyond that. He sees his role as more than just a coach, especially at a smaller school like PCA.

“At this point I know it’s more about mentoring than wins and losses. If you do it the right way they’re going to come,” he said. “That’s a big part of getting back here and getting to mentor kids in this community.”