Wolverine Digest

Former Michigan football player, coach Denard Robinson gets new coaching job

Trent Knoop|
Benjamin Roberts/Iowa City Press-Citizen via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Back in April, former Michigan staffer Denard Robinson was arrested by police for an OWI charge. The University of Michigan would dismiss Robinson from the team. He was on staff for a couple of seasons with the Wolverines and was becoming an avid recruiter for Michigan. He was expected to work his way up the ranks as a coach, but after his dismissal from Michigan, people wondered what was next for Robinson.

A few months later, Lead Prep Academy announced it had hired Robinson as its running backs coach. The post-graduate school with a junior-college football program based in Brighton (MI), must've liked what they saw from Robinson. That's because on Thursday, Robinson got a promotion.

The former Michigan football star is now the assistant head coach with Lead Prep Academy.

Robinson, or better known as 'Shoelace' during his playing days, was one of the most electric players to ever come through Ann Arbor. Robinson was the bright light during a bad time in Michigan football history. He finished his Michigan career with 6,250 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns. He also ran for 4,495 yards and rushed for 42 touchdowns. Michigan fans will likely never forget what he did on the field for their Wolverines.

He will now hope to resurrect his coaching career with the JUCO team. Maybe someday Robinson can work his way back up to the D1 level.

Denard Robinson
NEAL C. LAURON / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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