William Bennett Robinson came into the world on April 4, 1988, and passed on on Dec. 24, 2024 at the age of 36.
Will was born to play basketball, coach like his dad and teach like his mom. He adored his big sister, Taylor, and treated his two closest cousins like kid brothers.
From day one he played for the team, as happy with others’ successes as his own. Teachers called him kind, buddies called him a prankster, and everyone he knew called him friend. He played four years for Durant High and four years for his dad at Southeastern. Coaching was like breathing to him, and Will loved teaching too. First career stop was Plano, where he met his soul mate, Kristen, whose wit, energy, loyalty and love for life matched his own. He coached at Colbert High School, S&S High School and Achille High School till 2019 when he came home to lead the Durant Lady Lions. Will wondered at the time if he was ready. He was more than.
Players say Coach Rob believed in them till they believed in themselves. Peers say he coached with infinite patience and relentless creativity. Napkins scribbled with plays often showed up where Coach Will had been. He ran camps, coached club teams and helped organizations like the Owen Foundation make their basketball dreams happen. He volunteered for Fellowship of Christian Athletes where his deep faith took front and center.
And most of all, Will made his life about family. He was never happier than when with his wife, two sons and two daughters, and that crew made every event an adventure. He made time for friends and extended family too; Will cooked up football pools, basketball brackets, game nights and date nights.
Will loved inspiring others. He soaked up motivational books and podcasts. His Instagram page celebrated his girls daily and ran quotes like “stop overthinking. If it’s God’s will, it’ll happen and nothing will stop it. If it’s not, God has a better plan. Have peace knowing that.” Will was a board game and card shark, a ride or die Oklahoma State and Thunder fan, a hot sauce connoisseur, and a dead pan jokester with a devastating dry wit. He valued hard work, fun, joy, and steadfast commitment and he lived that way every day he was here.
Will gave his life saving his family, and his presence surrounds them, along with the countless extended family, friends, players and students whose lives are forever better having known him.
He is survived by wife, Kristen; sons, Carson and Cade; daughter, Ellie; his sister, Taylor; his parents, Tony and Beth; in-laws, Brad and Shelley Winking; cousins, Mark Long and Hudson Long; aunts, Sydney Long and Amy Hudson, uncle, Rick Long; brother-in-law, Alex Winking and wife Kristen; nieces, Emelia Winking, and Rigby Robinson and nephew, James Winking, and Carson’s mother, Sara Baugh. He was irreplaceable.
Preceding Will in death are his grandparents, Lola and Carney Robinson, Betty and Castle Hudson; uncle, Kyle Hudson; and sister-in-law Kayla Winking.
A joint memorial service will be held for Will and his daughter Clara will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the Durant High School Gymnasium.
Family hour will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Fusion Bible in Durant, Oklahoma.
Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma.
www.holmescoffeymurray.com
