Women's Volleyball
Robinson, Kyle
Kyle Robinson
- Title:
- Head Volleyball Coach
- Email:
- kyle.robinson@qu.edu
- Phone:
- (203) 582-5313
Quinnipiac University Director of Athletics & Recreation Greg Amodio has announced that Kyle Robinson has been named the head volleyball coach and the ninth coach in program history, effective Monday, January 21, 2019. Robinson enters his seventh season in 2025. ?
In 2024, Robinson led the Bobcats to 19 wins for the second straight season. Quinnipiac went 15-3 in MAAC play, earning themselves the #2 seed in the MAAC Tournament. Quinnipiac defeated the Rider Broncs in four sets in the MAAC Semifinals. Elena Giacomini earned MAAC Player of the Year honors, the program’s first conference player of the year. Junior Damla Gunes won the MAAC Setter of the Year Award for the second straight season, becoming the first player in the team’s history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. First year Carola Negron-Diaz was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team. ?
Quinnipiac volleyball’s all-time winningest coach, Kyle Robinson earned his 200th career win as head coach during the 2023 season after Quinnipiac defeated Canisius in straight sets on Oct. 22, 2023. Robinson led the Bobcats to 19 wins in 2023, the most in a season since the 2016 season and the most in a season coached by Robinson.
Quinnipiac went 14-4 in the MAAC and earned a bye into the MAAC Semifinals. Those 14 conference wins marked the most conference victories for the Bobcats in a single season. They faced No. 6 Iona in the MAAC Semifinals and defeated them in four sets. They faced No. 6 Iona in the semifinals and defeated them three sets to one.
Robinson saw nine players selected to the MAAC All-Academic team in 2023, as well as Damla Gunes being named Setter of the Year in the conference. With the accolade, Gunes became the first player in program history to be named the Setter of the Year and the first Bobcat to earn a major award since Alejandra Rodriguez was named the MAAC Libero of the Year in 2019.
Along with Gunes, Ginevra Giovagnoni were named to the All-MAAC First team. Aryanah Diaz was tabbed to the All-MAAC Second team and first year Leilani-kai Giusta was named to the All-MAAC Rookie team.
In 2022, Robinson led the Bobcats to 14 wins, tying for the most wins in a single season during his tenure (2019). Quinnipiac won 10 MAAC regular season contests, powered by nine wins in its last 11 regular season games to earn the No. 6 seed entering the MAAC Volleyball Championship. As the No. 6 seed, Quinnipiac upset No. 3 Iona to advance to the MAAC Semifinals for the third time in four seasons under coach Robinson. The Bobcats went on to defeat No. 7 Rider in straight sets to earn its second berth in four seasons into the MAAC Championship game, where Quinnipiac would run into top-seeded Fairfield. Unwavered, the Bobcats went on to down No. 1 Fairfield in four sets to earn the program’s first-ever MAAC title and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Senior Aryanah Diaz was named the 2022 MAAC Championship MVP, while first-years Damla Gunes and Ginevra Giovagnoni were named to the 2022 MAAC Championship All-Tournament Team.
Along with seeing six student-athletes earn All-MAAC Academic honors, Robinson saw a trio of Bobcats earn All-MAAC honors in 2022. Aryanah Diaz earned All-MAAC First team honors, while Nicole Legg was named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Damla Gunes rounded out the accolades for the trio with earning All-MAAC Rookie Team honors.
Robinson guided the Bobcats to 11 wins in 2021, an eight-win increase from the prior season. Quinnipiac won nine MAAC regular season games and qualified for the 2021 MAAC Volleyball Championship as a No. 6 seed. As the No. 6 seed, Quinnipiac upset the No. 3 seeded Marist in the MAAC quarterfinals, marking the third upset victory Robinson led the Bobcats to in the MAAC Tournament during his tenure. Under coach Robinson, the Bobcats saw nine members named to the All-Academic Team, while Nicole Legg earned All-MAAC First Team honors and Fa’avae Kimsel Moe garnered MAAC All-Rookie Team Honors.
In an abbreviated 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson led the Bobcats to three wins in eight contests with all three wins coming against MAAC opponents. Robinson led the program to their second consecutive MAAC Championship berth, entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed. That season under Robinson, the Bobcats saw Maggie Baker garner All-MAAC First Team honors.
In 2019, Robinson led the Bobcats to 14 wins in his first season in charge, a five win increase from the previous season. The Bobcats won eight MAAC regular season games and qualified for the 2019 MAAC Volleyball Championship as a six seed. Quinnipiac upset No. 3 Rider and No. 2 Canisius to make it to the MAAC Championship game against Fairfield. Under Robinson, the Bobcats also earned their first MAAC Libero of the Year award as senior Alejandra Rodriguez earned the honor. She was also named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Senior Kaleigh Oates joined Rodriguez on the All-MAAC Second Team.
“I am pleased to welcome Kyle and his family to Quinnipiac University,” said Amodio. “During his time as both a player and coach, Kyle has demonstrated a commitment to excellence. I’m confident that his drive to succeed at the highest level will afford us the opportunity to establish a championship caliber program.”
Robinson comes to Quinnipiac after serving as the assistant volleyball coach at the University of Oklahoma from 2015 to 2018.
“I am very excited to have the privilege of leading Quinnipiac volleyball into a new era,” said Robinson. “My family and I are honored to join such an amazing athletic department and become a part of the Bobcat family. I will be proud to represent Quinnipiac in our community and on a national and global scale.”
Before working at Oklahoma, Robinson served as the head coach at LIU Brooklyn from July 2008 to February 2015. He led the program to five NCAA tournament appearances and five Northeast Conference Championships through seven seasons. Robinson was named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, becoming the only coach in NEC history to earn the award four times.
His final season at LIU Brooklyn included a perfect 14-0 mark in Northeast Conference play, 25-7 overall record, and a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In his career at LIU Brooklyn, Robinson posted a 144-83 record, including an impressive 90-10 mark in conference play. The Blackbirds claimed conference championships in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and the team reached the 25-win mark in both 2012 and 2014.
Robinson played a pivotal role in the development of multiple all-league players, including Annika Foit, the only three-time Player of the Year in Northeast Conference history. Foit also earned Capital One Academic All-America First Team honors under Robinson.
Overall, Robinson has coached five conference Players of the Year, along with four Setters of the Year, three Liberos of the Year, one Rookie of the Year, 21 All-Conference First Team members, and six second-team honorees.
In addition, Robinson was part of USA Volleyball for four years from 2011-2015 as a head and assistant coach for the USAV College National Team and Development Team.
Robinson began his collegiate coaching career at the Air Force Academy from 2006-2008 as the assistant coach for the Falcons.
On the court, Robinson has had experience playing with numerous professional organizations. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science at Long Island University, Robinson played for the USA National Team, the PAOK and Aris Volleyball Clubs in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Criollos Volleyball in Caguas, Puerto Rico, the Ethnikos Volleyball Club in Alexandropoulos, Greece and the Volleyball Club Zorgvliet Antwerpen in Antwerp, Belgium.
Robinson and his wife Jennifer are proud parents of children Zion, Zoe, and Katie.
In 2024, Robinson led the Bobcats to 19 wins for the second straight season. Quinnipiac went 15-3 in MAAC play, earning themselves the #2 seed in the MAAC Tournament. Quinnipiac defeated the Rider Broncs in four sets in the MAAC Semifinals. Elena Giacomini earned MAAC Player of the Year honors, the program’s first conference player of the year. Junior Damla Gunes won the MAAC Setter of the Year Award for the second straight season, becoming the first player in the team’s history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. First year Carola Negron-Diaz was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team. ?
Quinnipiac volleyball’s all-time winningest coach, Kyle Robinson earned his 200th career win as head coach during the 2023 season after Quinnipiac defeated Canisius in straight sets on Oct. 22, 2023. Robinson led the Bobcats to 19 wins in 2023, the most in a season since the 2016 season and the most in a season coached by Robinson.
Quinnipiac went 14-4 in the MAAC and earned a bye into the MAAC Semifinals. Those 14 conference wins marked the most conference victories for the Bobcats in a single season. They faced No. 6 Iona in the MAAC Semifinals and defeated them in four sets. They faced No. 6 Iona in the semifinals and defeated them three sets to one.
Robinson saw nine players selected to the MAAC All-Academic team in 2023, as well as Damla Gunes being named Setter of the Year in the conference. With the accolade, Gunes became the first player in program history to be named the Setter of the Year and the first Bobcat to earn a major award since Alejandra Rodriguez was named the MAAC Libero of the Year in 2019.
Along with Gunes, Ginevra Giovagnoni were named to the All-MAAC First team. Aryanah Diaz was tabbed to the All-MAAC Second team and first year Leilani-kai Giusta was named to the All-MAAC Rookie team.
In 2022, Robinson led the Bobcats to 14 wins, tying for the most wins in a single season during his tenure (2019). Quinnipiac won 10 MAAC regular season contests, powered by nine wins in its last 11 regular season games to earn the No. 6 seed entering the MAAC Volleyball Championship. As the No. 6 seed, Quinnipiac upset No. 3 Iona to advance to the MAAC Semifinals for the third time in four seasons under coach Robinson. The Bobcats went on to defeat No. 7 Rider in straight sets to earn its second berth in four seasons into the MAAC Championship game, where Quinnipiac would run into top-seeded Fairfield. Unwavered, the Bobcats went on to down No. 1 Fairfield in four sets to earn the program’s first-ever MAAC title and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Senior Aryanah Diaz was named the 2022 MAAC Championship MVP, while first-years Damla Gunes and Ginevra Giovagnoni were named to the 2022 MAAC Championship All-Tournament Team.
Along with seeing six student-athletes earn All-MAAC Academic honors, Robinson saw a trio of Bobcats earn All-MAAC honors in 2022. Aryanah Diaz earned All-MAAC First team honors, while Nicole Legg was named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Damla Gunes rounded out the accolades for the trio with earning All-MAAC Rookie Team honors.
Robinson guided the Bobcats to 11 wins in 2021, an eight-win increase from the prior season. Quinnipiac won nine MAAC regular season games and qualified for the 2021 MAAC Volleyball Championship as a No. 6 seed. As the No. 6 seed, Quinnipiac upset the No. 3 seeded Marist in the MAAC quarterfinals, marking the third upset victory Robinson led the Bobcats to in the MAAC Tournament during his tenure. Under coach Robinson, the Bobcats saw nine members named to the All-Academic Team, while Nicole Legg earned All-MAAC First Team honors and Fa’avae Kimsel Moe garnered MAAC All-Rookie Team Honors.
In an abbreviated 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson led the Bobcats to three wins in eight contests with all three wins coming against MAAC opponents. Robinson led the program to their second consecutive MAAC Championship berth, entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed. That season under Robinson, the Bobcats saw Maggie Baker garner All-MAAC First Team honors.
In 2019, Robinson led the Bobcats to 14 wins in his first season in charge, a five win increase from the previous season. The Bobcats won eight MAAC regular season games and qualified for the 2019 MAAC Volleyball Championship as a six seed. Quinnipiac upset No. 3 Rider and No. 2 Canisius to make it to the MAAC Championship game against Fairfield. Under Robinson, the Bobcats also earned their first MAAC Libero of the Year award as senior Alejandra Rodriguez earned the honor. She was also named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Senior Kaleigh Oates joined Rodriguez on the All-MAAC Second Team.
“I am pleased to welcome Kyle and his family to Quinnipiac University,” said Amodio. “During his time as both a player and coach, Kyle has demonstrated a commitment to excellence. I’m confident that his drive to succeed at the highest level will afford us the opportunity to establish a championship caliber program.”
Robinson comes to Quinnipiac after serving as the assistant volleyball coach at the University of Oklahoma from 2015 to 2018.
“I am very excited to have the privilege of leading Quinnipiac volleyball into a new era,” said Robinson. “My family and I are honored to join such an amazing athletic department and become a part of the Bobcat family. I will be proud to represent Quinnipiac in our community and on a national and global scale.”
Before working at Oklahoma, Robinson served as the head coach at LIU Brooklyn from July 2008 to February 2015. He led the program to five NCAA tournament appearances and five Northeast Conference Championships through seven seasons. Robinson was named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, becoming the only coach in NEC history to earn the award four times.
His final season at LIU Brooklyn included a perfect 14-0 mark in Northeast Conference play, 25-7 overall record, and a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In his career at LIU Brooklyn, Robinson posted a 144-83 record, including an impressive 90-10 mark in conference play. The Blackbirds claimed conference championships in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and the team reached the 25-win mark in both 2012 and 2014.
Robinson played a pivotal role in the development of multiple all-league players, including Annika Foit, the only three-time Player of the Year in Northeast Conference history. Foit also earned Capital One Academic All-America First Team honors under Robinson.
Overall, Robinson has coached five conference Players of the Year, along with four Setters of the Year, three Liberos of the Year, one Rookie of the Year, 21 All-Conference First Team members, and six second-team honorees.
In addition, Robinson was part of USA Volleyball for four years from 2011-2015 as a head and assistant coach for the USAV College National Team and Development Team.
Robinson began his collegiate coaching career at the Air Force Academy from 2006-2008 as the assistant coach for the Falcons.
On the court, Robinson has had experience playing with numerous professional organizations. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science at Long Island University, Robinson played for the USA National Team, the PAOK and Aris Volleyball Clubs in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Criollos Volleyball in Caguas, Puerto Rico, the Ethnikos Volleyball Club in Alexandropoulos, Greece and the Volleyball Club Zorgvliet Antwerpen in Antwerp, Belgium.
Robinson and his wife Jennifer are proud parents of children Zion, Zoe, and Katie.
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