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Chris Robinson
McDonogh
Robinson faced a challenge few coaches ever come close to -- keeping his players focused and grounded under the pressure of a 69-game winning streak.
The Eagles had graduated some big names, and Robinson needed to find new chemistry this season. It didn't take long, and No. 1 McDonogh added to several streaks with a 22-0 season, its fifth straight Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship and fourth straight national No. 1 ranking.
"I think the key was the early-season resilience we showed," Robinson said. "We had a new cast of players, and we knew we were going to be tested right out of the gate. We played two state champions (Vero Beach, Fla., and Milton, Ga.), and we were down to both teams and didn't crumble. That was a big seed of confidence."
Robinson, who also was Coach of the Year in 1999, when he led Mount Hebron to a perfect season and the Class 2A-1A state championship, has a career record of 276-18-1 in 15 years with seven national No. 1 teams. In nine years at McDonogh, he is 169-10.