Avery Boulware, Campus Carrier Sports Editor
After completing eight seasons of volleyball at Berry, head coach Mika Robinson has stepped down. Robinson has accepted the position of head coach at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., an NCAA Division II school.
The promotion came as a surprise to many, including Robinson herself.
“I honestly believed I would retire from Berry,” she said. “Berry has been so good to us.”
The hiring process only took a few weeks, and Robinson told administration and the team last week when she found out.
Robinson, originally from Florida, is looking forward to being closer to her and her husband’s extended family.
“Rollins is a position that is close to home for us,” she said. “It was a very unique opportunity to take a position at a school that, in some ways, is very similar to Berry, but also gives us the opportunity to be closer to family.”
Director of athletics Todd Brooks was saddened but not surprised by Robinson’s promotion.
“At the Division III level, it’s pretty common to lose coaches,” Brooks said. “You get a lot of coaches that come and cut their teeth on a program our size then move on to bigger opportunities or challenges.”
Berry has fostered coaches such as Becky Burleigh, who is now the head soccer coach at the University of Florida and holds a national championship.
Brooks made it clear, however, that the gap Robinson will leave at Berry will not be easily filled.
“What a tremendous asset she has been,” Brooks said. “The day she decided to take the Rollins job last week was very bittersweet. She’s a big part of our athletic family.”
As well as her position as head coach, Robinson held several administrative positions at Berry, including senior woman administrator and overseeing compliance for NCAA. This year she has specifically worked with academic support and has been creating programs for athlete wellness.
“It’s been a great way to give back to the department as a whole,” Robinson said. “There’s been so much growth in the athletic department.”
Caitlyn Jansen, who has been the assistant coach under Robinson for four years, will take Robinson’s place as head coach.
“I think it provides a lot of continuity for the players and program, but it’s hard to see Mika move on,” Jansen said. “But I’m really proud of her, and inspired that she’s taking a leap of faith and going where she’s called to go.”
Jansen arrived at Berry in July of 2012 as a graduate assistant and was promoted to assistant coach after one year of coaching. She finished her master’s degree in May 2014 and has remained full time assistant coach ever since.
Jansen, who helped recruit the incoming players for next season, has formed strong relationships with the returners and has high hopes for the fall 2016 season.
“I want to continue what Mika and I have built the last four years,” Jansen said. “We want to continue to get better, both on and off the court. I’m excited to be at Bery, and I couldn’t be more excited about the team moving forward. I’m looking forward to a strong group of returners that are more confident in tight situations.”
Coaching under Robinson has taught her more than just gameplay tactics, Jansen said.
“I think Mika is one of those people that has mastered developing relationships,” Jansen said. “I have really learned to value the importance of relationships with players and with people across campus. She has really shown me that coaching is more than just being on the court. It really is a vehicle for teaching life lessons. It’s so much bigger than just the court.”
Jansen, Brooks and a group of other coaches and administrators will begin the search for a new assistant coach immediately, and hope to hire a replacement before the semester is over. The position will be advertised nationally, specifically on NCAA.org, and candidates will be narrowed down until the remaining few will come to visit Berry and meet the team and faculty members. Brooks is hopeful that a replacement might even be in place before spring training begins.