Dave Robbins’ favorite job in life is one he never made a dime doing.
Robbins, who has spent his life coaching and helping young people, was honored at the Plant City Family YMCA Strong Leader Dinner Aug. 27, at the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center.
Robbins, or “Coach Dave” as he’s better known, becomes the 11th Strong Leader Award winner, joining the likes of Sherrie Mueller, Fred Johnson, 2012 winner David Miller and Mike Sparkman, the inaugural winner in 2003. The award is presented to individuals whose contributions to the Plant City community echo the YMCA’s commitment for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
Roy Peterson told Robbins that he was this year’s recipient two months ago.
“I had heard of the award, but I was surprised to win it,” Robbins says. “It’s a great honor, and I’m humbled by it and glad to be a part of it.”
BASKETBALL PIONEER
In 1969, two years after moving to Plant City, Robbins formed a youth basketball league under Plant City Recreation and Parks and the Plant City Optimist Club, an organization for which Robbins is a charter member.
For the past 44 years, Robbins has served as the director of the league, which has had great success and regularly pulls in about 425 kids annually.
“We’ve had as many as 550 kids participating at one time,” he says. “It’s still thriving and doing well. There’s a playing fee, but if we have a kid who wants to pay and just doesn’t have the money, we’ll figure out a way to let them participate.”
MAKING AN IMPACT
Robbins says he particularly enjoys seeing former players come back as grown men and tell him about the difference he made in their lives.
“Them telling me how I impacted their lives — that’s always important to me,” he says. “A lot of people talk about the pay with coaching. Well, I’ve never coached a lick for pay, but my pay is when kids turn out to be successful.”
Robbins says he saw about a dozen former players at the dinner from the three different high schools at which he coached — Lake Gibson, George Jenkins and Plant City. He also received two phone calls — one from a former player who now is a coach in Missouri and another from Hosie Grimsley Jr., a former player who went on to play from 1989 to 1993, at the University of Florida.
“That’s the kind of reward that you enjoy,” Robbins says.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Robbins’ favorite memory in all of his years of coaching came in 1967 — his first year as an assistant at Plant City Senior High School. Along with head coach Larry Martin, the team then known as the Planters won the boys state championship.
“I thought we were going to win it every year after that, but we haven’t been back since,” he says.
Robbins went on to serve as an assistant at Lake Gibson and George Jenkins high schools but later returned to where it all began.
“When I got to the school and met Dave, I had no idea that he was the assistant coach,” says current PCHS head coach Dale Chambers. “It wasn’t until we went to lunch and started talking about basketball that he mentioned being an assistant.”
Chambers added that Robbins has an “old school and direct approach” to the game but that his players respect and admire him.
Robbins also helps with fundraising efforts for the school as a charter member of the Plant City High Athletic Booster Club and helps out each summer with Chambers’ annual youth co-ed basketball camp.
“He’s a great help to me and does a great job helping run our program,” Chambers says.
For Robbins, helping kids grow as players and people is what matters most. That, and his passion for the game.
“It’s always just been basketball,” he says. “There’s no other sport.”
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2003 Mike Sparkman
2004 Betty Chambers
2005 Randy Larson
2006 Cindy Churchill
2007 Rick and Di Lott
2008 Sherrie Mueller
2009 Tommy Warnock
2010 Fred Johnson
2011 B.M. “Mac” Smith
2012 David Miller