Citing multiple reasons for his decision to depart, Jason Robinson has stepped down as the Head Football Coach of the Heritage Hurricanes in Newport News, VA.?

 

"It was definitely a tough decision, and it wasn't a snap decision.? As I look at Heritage, I used to teach there before I got the job, and I really enjoyed my time there and really enjoyed the kids," Robinson told VirginiaPreps.com on Wednesday night.? "But when you look forward, I have a lot of things going on personally.? My daughter is getting ready to go to Middle School soon, me pursuing my administrative degree and trying to do my business thing too, I wanted to make sure the school was in the position to move forward.? I wasn't so sure I could provide that anymore."

 

The timing of Robinson announcing his resignation comes as a bit surprising because Heritage is 1-8 overall with one game remaining.? Heritage will play its regular season finale on November 6^th against Woodside, which is 8-1 overall.

 

"Society has changed a little bit and when you go through a couple of down years like we have been at Heritage, you have certain outside elements whether it be parents, people from other schools and that question of whether or not the coach is going to remain there is something that's brought up among the players," Robinson noted.? "I didn't want it to be a distraction.? Some people may think by me making a decision before the last game, that it may have been a distraction, but it hasn't turned out that way.? I wanted to let the kids know that I still care about them, that it was a decision that I made and I felt like I was doing the right thing for taking responsibility for what's going on."

 

In five years coaching the Hurricanes, Robinson went 18-32 with his best season coming in 2007 when they went 7-4 overall and reached the Division 5 Eastern Region playoffs.? They were eliminated that year in the quarterfinals by Green Run, 19-6.? Since that point they have gone through consecutive losing seasons, dropping 16 in a row during one stretch, and the team's lone two Peninsula District wins were against Gloucester and Menchville.

 

Constant changes on Robinson's coaching staff in his five years was one of the things that he felt contributed to their lack of sustained success on the football field.? Many of his assistant coaches did not work in the building at Heritage.

 

"We were in a tough district and you have to compete week in and week out against every opponent.? In order to do that effectively, you have to have a good group of coaches that are all on the same page.? I truly believe the best way to do that is to have people that are in the building," Robinson said.?

 

"The communication is so different, the amount of time that you can spend together as coaches on the job, if you have an idea you want to run pass somebody, they're right there.? It's just a real tough situation, and one of the big factors is that in the off-season there's also a large disparity in the amount of time that some of my assistant coaches can spend to get the team ready because they do work jobs outside of the system.? In terms of football, that was one of the deciding factors, the ability to progress the team in the off-season."

 

Robinson does take pride in the fact he sent several players on to the next level during his tenure at Heritage.? In fact, much of his focus will now shift to his recruiting business, Rewsports, and helping Hampton Roads area athletes get to college.

 

"I truly believe that a big part of our job is to get these guys prepared for school.? I'm proud of our guys that are in school from Heritage, but I'm more proud that they are progressing towards a degree," Robinson remarked. ?"In those terms we've been successful.? The business that I've started is going to allow me to continue to do that, to help guys get into school.? I have some Peninsula District athletes with whom I'm working now."

 

A return to coaching is not only a distinct possibility in Robinson's eyes; it's something he predicts we will see in the very near future, as soon as 2010.

 

"I'm pretty confident that I'll be coaching in the area next year," Robinson believes.? "I have some options out there and I'm not really going to discuss them right now because people are still playing ball.? I'll still be in the area, still be around and I will be looking to get my administrative certification so I can be an assistant principal in a High School in the next 4-5 years. ?I have a lot of stuff on my plate and I didn't want those things to be a distraction at Heritage."

 

 

Matthew Hatfield has covered Eastern Region Basketball & Football since 2004 for VirginiaPreps.com - the #1 High School Sports Site on the Rivals Network.  Check out Hatfield's website - www.matthewhatfield.com - for more on the pro and college sports scene.  To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and catch him throughout the year on ESPN Radio 94.1.