MVSU replaces women's basketball coach Elvis Robinson

Courtesy: Chris Jones / Chris Jones Photography

ITTA BENA, Mississippi - Mississippi Valley State University has informed women’s basketball head coach Elvis Robinson that his contract will not be renewed. Assistant coach Melvin Williams will serve as the acting head coach until a successor is named. The announcement was made Thursday evening.

The MVSU department of athletics did not issue a formal release but emailed the Southwestern Athletic Conference to inform the league of Robinson’s departure.

“Mississippi Valley State University would like to thank Elvis Robinson for his years of service, the announcement said. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors”.

Robinson took over the program in 2012-13 and led the Delta Devils to a 17-15 mark and an appearance in the 2013 SWAC Basketball Tournament Championship. Since then, he has gone 16-63. This season the team is off to (3-16, 1-8) start and currently on an eight game losing streak.

Robinson, who was an assistant at Jackson State, played for MVSU from 2000-04 and was a member of the 2003-04 regular season SWAC championship team.

He went on to become a graduate assistant for the Alcorn State women’s basketball team from 2004-06. The Lady Braves won the 2004-05 SWAC championship. He then served as an assistant coach for the Braves from 2006-08 before heading back to JSU in 2008.

About Melvin Williams

Melvin Williams is in his second season as assistant women’s' basketball coach. He arrived at MVSU after a three-year stint at Alabama A&M where he served as assistant coach from 2010-13. From April to May of 2013, Williams worked as the team’s interim head coach.

Prior this time at AAMU, he served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Georgia Perimeter during the 2009-10 season.

His time at Georgia Perimeter was preceded by a two-year stint as head women’s basketball coach at Tennessee Temple University. Prior to arriving at Tennessee Temple, Williams served as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at Cumberland University under Lonnie Thompson for one season from 2006-07. He also spent time as senior recruiting coordinator at Tennessee State for two seasons (2004-06) and head men’s and women’s basketball coach at Chattanooga State for six years (1998-2004). He began his head coaching tenure at Chattanooga State in 1999 after a one-year stint as an assistant with the men’s team.

Under Williams’ guidance, the CSCC men’s team reached the semifinals of the TJCAA Tournament three consecutive seasons. In 2003, the men’s team advanced to the TJCAA championship. During that span, the Tigers posted back-to-back 20 win seasons. In 2002, the Lady Tigers finished fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament after dominating their region and finishing with a 30-5 record.

A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering technology.

2010-13
Alabama A&M
Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach

2009-10
Georgia Perimeter College
Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach

2007-09
Tennessee Temple University
Head Women’s Basketball Coach

2006-07
Cumberland University
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

2004-06
Tennessee State
Senior Recruiting Coordinator

1998-2004
Chattanooga State College
Head Men’s & Women’s Basketball Coach

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS