Columbus West promotes Eric Robinson to football coach following death of Aaron Owens
Eric Robinson, a former assistant coach at Marion-Franklin and Hartley, will lead the West football program following the death of Aaron Owens.
Robinson, 30, was slated to serve as an assistant under Owens this season. Owens died July 21 while on vacation with his family in Mexico.
“I had built a great relationship with him,” Robinson said of Owens, who was a West assistant last season. Owens previously led the program from 2002-05.
The Cowboys opened the season Friday night with a 56-0 loss at Hilliard Davidson. West is seeking its first win since Oct. 19, 2018, when it beat Africentric 15-14.
“There’s an eagerness and willingness to get back out there,” Robinson said. “I know they haven’t won a game in some years, but we’re leaving that in the past and trying to move forward with our future. We’re keeping them uplifted and energized every day.”
Robinson coached wide receivers and defensive backs at Hartley last season. He was an assistant at Marion-Franklin, his alma mater, in 2021.
Owens also coached West’s boys and girls track and field teams. Robinson will serve as interim girls coach, with the boys coach yet to be determined, according to athletic director Aaron Geis.
“We’re just trying to continue what his vision was,” Geis said of Owens. “Not just using his name as something to remember by, but what he has taught us. That’s the bigger picture because he wasn’t just an important person to the kids, he uplifted and had a drastic impact on coaches, administration and our athletic department.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Eric Robinson named football coach at Columbus West High School
