Via Detroit News:

Legendary basketball coach Will Robinson died Sunday night at Henry Ford Hospital at age 96. He’d been in a nursing home for more than a year.

Robinson, who lived in Detroit, was the first African-American Division I basketball coach, at Illinois State. He began in 1970 and coached then-All American Doug Collins, who later was the first pick in the NBA draft and coached the Pistons.

Robinson coached in the Detroit Public School League for 26 years. He began at Miller High in 1944 at age 33. He coached basketball and football at Miller.

Robinson’s greatest acclaim came at Pershing, where he led the Doughboys to state titles in 1967 and 1970. The 1967 team, which included Spencer Haywood and Ralph Simpson, is considered one of the greatest high school basketball teams in Michigan history.

He worked as a scout for the Lions and discovered cornerback Lem Barney.

Robinson joined the Pistons as a scout in 1976. He retired in 2003 as an assistant to president Joe Dumars.

This is sad news. I know guys like Isiah and Joe cared for Will very much. I read that Isiah stayed close to Will even after leaving the Pistons and would usually make trips to visit him when he was in town. Will lived a long life but it’s still sad to lose someone you care about no matter what age they are.

Rest in peace.

Detroit Free Press/AP: Pioneering basketball figure Will Robinson dies at 96
Pistons.com: Will Robinson Passes Away