Justin Robinson, who earned national recognition as the 2023 NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year, joined the NIU staff in January 2025 as defensive tackles coach.
Robinson came to NIU from Marian University in Indianapolis, where he served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024, helping lead the Knights to a 17-4 record, a 2023 NAIA playoff appearance and back-to-back conference championships. In two seasons, 17 defensive players were named all-conference and one – defensive back Nate Frey – earned first team All-America and conference defensive player of the year honors.
In 2023, the Knights ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense and in two seasons, they totaled 57 takeaways, 66 quarterback sacks and 159 tackles for loss. Robinson was selected for both the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship program and the NCAA/NFL Coaches Academy in 2023.
Prior to returning to his hometown of Indianapolis, Robinson spent the 2022 season as defensive line coach at the University of Tennessee Martin where he mentored AFCA All-American defensive end Daylan Dotson on the SkyHawks team that won the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference title. UT-Martin ranked among the Top 25 teams in the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks and tackles for loss and were in the Top 10 in turnover margin.
In Robinson’s four seasons as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana from 2018-21, the Panthers won three conference titles (2018, 2019, 2021) and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2018 and 2019. Nine of his Hanover players were named all-conference and two earned All-America status.
Before moving into collegiate coaching, Robinson served as the defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Evansville Central High School for the 2017 season. He also spent the 2016 season as the defensive line coach at Bishop Chatard High School, his alma mater, and 2015 as defensive coordinator at Heritage Christian School.
Robinson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human biology from the University of Indianapolis, where he was a member of the Greyhound football program for three seasons, including on the 2012 UIndy team that won the Great Lakes Valley Conference. He played in 30 games during his three seasons at Indianapolis with 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
Robinson received a master’s degree in human resource management/personnel administration from Indiana Wesleyan in 2016. He is married and has a daughter.
