Fairley's Gene Robinson to coach high school football all-star game he once played in

Khari Thompson
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Douglass coach Preston Harris and Fairley coach Gene Robinson on Wednesday were named coaches for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star game.

The coaching staffs for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star game were announced Wednesday afternoon, and for the first time in the game's 18-year history, a former player will serve as head coach. 

Fairley's Gene Robinson, who played in the game as a Whitehaven senior in 2008, will coach the red team. Douglass' Preston Harris will coach the blue team. 

"This whole experience is like full circle," Robinson said. "I remember opening my invitation and being excited to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Excited to play on TV for the first time. Excited to play for a legendary coach in (former Whitehaven coach) Stan Collins." 

Robinson went on to play defensive back at North Carolina from 2009-13. He made 124 tackles and intercepted three passes. He said that the all-star game helped him make an early connection with a future teammate who was also from Memphis. 

"When I got there, I was like, 'Man, that looks like a teammate I had in the all-star game. Is your name (former MUS standout) Michael Folk? I went to Whitehaven, and I never would have met Michael Folk if it wasn't for the all-star game," Robinson said. "We played in the game, and I remember many times asking him for a ride home. We would ride 11 hours from Chapel Hill to Memphis." 

Robinson returned to Whitehaven as an assistant in 2014 and is now in his third season as head coach at Fairley. The Bulldogs are two-time defending region champions, and Robinson is two-time defending Region Coach of the Year. 

This year, Fairley (5-2) is in first place in Region 8-2A with a 4-0 region record and a Mr. Football candidate in Middle Tennessee State running back commitment Terry Wilkins. 

"We all go way back, me and Coach Rob (Robinson). We're archrivals in our region, and we play good football with each other," Harris said. "He's gotten the best of me the last three years, but of course this is an opportunity to get at him. But he's doing a phenomenal job."