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Wednesday, January 17, 2001

Bouncing Around
After stints at area schools, Robledo settles on A&M-K
By Matt Young
Caller-Times

David Pellerin/Caller-Times

Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s coach Debbie Robledo directs her team during practice Tuesday. The Javelinas women are off to a 15-2 start.

KINGSVILLE - After taking Marion High School to the state girls basketball tournament four times in seven years, Debbie Robledo started hearing the college game calling.
   Texas A&M-Kingsville was interested in 1992, but Robledo doubted herself and turned down the job. She almost immediately regretted that decision.
   Life doesn't give many second chances, so when Robledo was faced with the same decision eight years later, she didn't doubt, she didn't hesitate. She just just said yes.
   "In 1992, I really didn't think I was ready," Robledo said. "I was coaching at the high school level and I didn't know if I could handle recruiting and all the things that go along with being a college coach. I was only 32 years old, and honestly, I don't know if I could have handled it. I'm just glad I got another chance to make that decision again."
   She got that chance after last season, when Jill Willson was promoted from A&M-Kingsville coach to associate athletic director. Robledo has picked up where Willson left off, leading the Javelinas to a 15-2 start heading into their game at Texas Woman's University on Thursday.
   Midway through her first season, Robledo's return has been a smashing success. The Javelinas are ranked No. 11 in the NCAA Division II poll, with their only losses coming against No. 1 Delta (Miss.) State in the season-opener and at Division I Southwest Texas.
   It was Willson who stepped in as Javelinas coach and started building the A&M-Kingsville program when Robledo turned down the job. After going 6-20 in her first season, Willson went on to lead the Javelinas to the postseason in five of the next seven years, including an appearance in the regional tournament last season.
   Career switch
   Meanwhile, Robledo was still searching for the right career move. After a successful stint at Gregory-Portland High School, she decided she was ready for the college level and took on the coaching job at A&M-Kingsville, only this time it was as the volleyball coach.
   She coached Javelinas volleyball for three seasons, and was even named Lone Star Conference coach of the year in 1997. She decided, however, that volleyball wasn't her thing, and stepped down to coach basketball at Ingleside High School.
   "Coaching volleyball here in Kingsville let me know I could handle the college level, but let's just say volleyball wasn't my favorite sport," Robledo said. "So, I went back to high school basketball."
   That's when life gave her a second chance.
   "When Jill took over the basketball program, she really built it and established it as a great program, so when she decided to step down and they came to me, it was an easy decision," Robledo said. "I made the decision when I left Kingsville as the volleyball coach that I wanted to come back here if I ever got another chance to coach basketball."
   A good start
   The team's hot start is a relief to the four returning players from last season's squad, who all had their doubts about a new coach coming in and trying to fix something that wasn't broken.
   "We were all real upset when Coach Willson stepped down, because we had such a good season, and we had no idea what was going to happen," forward Patricia Lewandowski said. "We were just hoping someone wouldn't come here and try to change everything."
   As it turns out, Lewandowski and the returners had little to worry about, because Robledo has made just one noticeable change. Under Willson, A&M-Kingsville thought defense first. With Robledo at the helm, the offense is shoot first, ask questions later.
   The Javelinas have already shot 340 3-pointers this season, more than 100 more attempts than their opponents.
   "Everybody likes to play offense, and this offense is wide open, so we're having a lot of fun," said A&M-Kingsville center Precious Thibodeaux, who leads the team in scoring with 17.3 points per game. "Last year, we were definitely a defensive team, but this year we're more offense, and we're putting up a lot of points."
   Getting more defensive
   While her players are excited about the high-powered offense, Robledo is more apologetic about it. In fact, she has even brought Willson to a few practices to help drill her players on defense.
   "It's my fault. We should be more defensive-minded," Robledo said. "Coach Willson is incredible with defense. She can be a great help to me in coaching defense, and the kids like to have her in practice, so I like to get her into practice every once in a while to help us out."
   Stepping into practice occasionally is a role that suits Willson fine.
   "I think Debbie and I complement each other really well, so it works," Willson said. "I like it because now that I'm not necessarily a part of the team, I can be optimistic and be more of a cheerleader with the players. When I was coach, I had to be the bad guy. Now I don't have to play that role anymore. I let Debbie be the bad guy."
   With Robledo pushing the offense faster, and Willson lending the occasional hand with the defense, the Javelinas expect to make Robledo's second chance well worth her while.
   "We had a great season last year, but I think we're a lot better this year," Thibodeaux said. "We're solid at every position. We're just going to keep listening to Coach Robledo and do what she tells us, and I think we can go farther than we did last year."


Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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