What do Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., Moises Alou and Terry Bowden have in common with Nathan Robison, a BYU track and field athlete?

Not a whole lot other than they were all coached by their own fathers at one point in time.

At BYU, a father coaching his sons is nothing new. LaVell Edwards coached a few of his sons, although they rarely saw playing time. BYU basketball is famous for the Reid brothers playing for their father, Roger. And BYU baseball coach Vance Law coaches his son, Tim.

No name at BYU, however, is more synonymous with a sport than Robison is with track and field. Clarence Robison coached his son, Mark Robison, who has in turn coached his son, Nathan.

Clarence Robison began the tradition in 1949 when he became the Cougars' coach. He coached 18 conference championship teams during his 40 seasons as coach of the Cougars.

In 1970, his team tied for the national championship. He coached more than 20 All-Americans and 26 Olympians. Robison was inducted into the United States Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame last year.

He also coached his son, Mark.

"It was a special honor to coach my son," Robison said. "He always had a great desire. He wasn't the number one middle distance runner on the team, but he ran well. It is always an honor and a pleasure to coach your own son."

Mark Robison competed for his father in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"It was fun having my father coach me," Mark Robison said. "I think sometimes with me it put a little extra pressure on him because I wasn't nearly as good as he was. I was just one of the guys who was just an average distance runner. I was very disappointed that I didn't do better for him, but I loved having him coach me because my dad has always been one of my heroes."

Mark Robison took over as the head coach of the track and field team three years ago, after spending 12 years as an assistant coach for the Cougars. During his time as an assistant and now as the head coach, the team has won 13 indoor conference championships, including one this year, 12 outdoor championships and has coached nearly 20 All-Americans.

"Mark is a good coach," Clarence Robison said. "He has an excellent background. He spent lots of years training, so he knows the events. I am pleased with the success he has had."

Mark Robison said he owes a lot of his success to his father and the desire he gained from watching him coach.

"The other thing that happened that was important while he was coaching me was to be able to be with him and get to know his associates," Mark Robison said. "Because of him I chose to be involved in athletics and to coach track."

Clarence Robison has become one of the biggest fans of the team for obvious reasons. His connection to the team has given him an insight most fans don't get.

"I keep up on who's doing what and what's happening with the team," Clarence Robison said. "It makes it really nice for me just to be able to have that close tie to what is going on with track and field at BYU."

Nathan Robison is following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps at BYU. Nathan, a sophomore, was an indoor All-American in the mile.

"It is a thrill to have him on the team," Mark Robison said. "Sometimes I am in different roles. Sometimes I am his father. At other times I am his coach, and sometimes it is a combination."

Nathan knows he will always have at least one fan supporting him at each meet because his father gets to see him compete everywhere he goes.

"I get to see him every day and travel with him," Mark said. "As a parent, you always want to see your children perform, and I get to do that every week."

Nathan also enjoys the contact he has with his father on a daily basis.

"I love competing for my father," Nathan said. "It is so nice to travel with him because growing up he was always gone with the track team, and now I get to go with him."

When his father is not coaching him, Nathan gets to hear more coaching advice from his grandfather.

"When he comes home from the track meets, I have to have him tell me all about what happened, so if I don't get to watch him, I get a full report when he gets home," Clarence Robison said. "It's fun to watch Nathan compete. It's almost nicer than doing it yourself."

Nathan knows the legacy he has to maintain as a Robison in the BYU track program.

"I don't think I get treated any differently than any of the other athletes because I am a Robison," Nathan said. "I don't know if I will coach or not because I want to teach, but one day I think I would like to coach a son at BYU."



Copyright Brigham Young University 13 May 2003