Hamilton High School head coach Eric “Cowboy” Robinson saw a need for an association that would fight for fairness for African American coaches and players in Memphis. 

So the longtime coach and CEO of the Memphis Magic formed the Metro Black Coaches Coalition alongside other local high school coaches including East High School head coach Jevonte Holmes.

“It was something that was needed,” Robinson said. “It was based off the NCAA Black Coaches Association. So we started one here in Memphis. It’s for black coaches. We’re doing this to help our kids.”

Robinson plans to use his connections to aid younger coaches in their dreams of becoming a high school, college or professional coach. Coaches from East High, Melrose, White Station and others will help Robinson in his efforts. 

Holmes doesn’t feel the urge to make the jump to college or pros anytime soon. He’s training a variety of players across the basketball spectrum. The Coalition is focused on giving older coaches who have been passed over for opportunities they may deserve a chance to achieve their career goals. 

“I probably will want to get to the college level one day,” Holmes said. “You got guys like Andre Turner and Keelon Lawson, a lot of the older guys who haven’t had their chance. You need a driving force behind them.”

The position of coach doesn’t start and end on the basketball floor for Robinson. It’s a bond he carries with those he’s mentored beyond their basketball playing days. 

Players like Dayton guard Jalen Crutcher aren’t the only prospects Robinson coached in his long career. There is life after basketball for each player he’s coached at the Memphis Magic or even trained one-one-one. 

“It goes from recreational ball to middle school ball to high school ball to college ball then professional and then real-life living,” Robinson said. “It’s more than just coaching, I’ve done recommendations for guys trying to get jobs.”

Former Memphis center James Wiseman and Holmes built a relationship through basketball which will last a lifetime. The Coalition wants to keep promoting those personal relationships 

“It’s all life,” Holmes said. “Some of your best friends are relationships you build right now and build through basketball. Me and James Wiseman talk all the time. If it weren’t for basketball it wouldn’t have brought us together.”

The murder of George Floyd sparked a fear inside Robinson. He doesn’t want to see anyone in Memphis become a victim of police violence. 

The Coalition plans to teach players how to interact with police so they can be prepared for the realities they will have to face. 

“We’re setting up something where we can sit down with our kids and let them know what to actually do if you get stopped by the police,” Robinson said. “Sometimes they don’t know.”

Wanting the best for players and his colleagues isn’t new for Robinson. Basketball can improve lives but it goes beyond that for many of those Robinson, coaches and players in Memphis. 

“Most of the kids we coach are African American so we’ve got to teach them to be successful,” Robinson said. “That’s what the Metro Black Coaches Coalition is all about. It’s more than just basketball.”