Craigston Robbins is proof that you can go home again as he returns to his alma mater to coach Azusa Pacific’s running backs.
Robbins grew up in southern California, playing his high school ball at Carson High School. He spent two years on the football team there, where he was a second-team all-Marine League selection, while spending his springs as an outfielder on the baseball team.
Craigston graduated in 2002. After attending El Camino College and earning an Associate of Arts degree, Robbins spent one year at New Mexico State University before coming to Azusa Pacific for the first time. He again spent two seasons on the team as a running back, making an appearance in the NAIA playoffs in 2005 before playing his senior season for then-rookie head coach Victor Santa Cruz in 2006.
After graduating with a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Media Studies, Robbins spent several years working in sales and marketing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and UCLA before being bitten by the coaching bug. Hoping to help mold the lives of young men in the same way he had been, he started his coaching career at Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary HS in Montebello, California. During that 2013 season, the Cardinals gained over 2,000 yards rushing, led by first-team all-Del Rey League selection Jean-Luc Dauphiney.
After that season, Robbins moved onto the college coaching ranks, becoming the running backs coach at Occidental College in Los Angeles. During his time with the Tigers, he coached the school’s single-season and career rushing leader, Kwame Do. Occidental’s running backs did not fumble the ball a single time during Robbins’ tenure at the school.
Following a brief stint at East Los Angeles College, Coach Robbins spent three seasons as the running backs coach at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. During that time with the Panthers, Robbins coached four all-conference nominees at the running back position, Jamal Scott, Artis Seymore, and two-time nominee Derrione Leeper, who was named the most valuable player of the 2018 Western State Bowl game. Robbins was also in charge of the program’s video, graphics design, and social media efforts.
Craigston lives in San Bernardino with his wife, Krystle, and their three daughters, Chloe (10), Catniss (4), and Casie (4 months).
Coach Robbins' Recruiting Regions
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