Chris R.

Chris Robertson is entering his seventh season at the helm of the WPI football program.

During his first six seasons at the helm, Robertson made Crimson and Gray fans happy by defeating Springfield for the first two times in school history and winning the coveted Transit Trophy against RPI three times. The victories in 2010 and 2011 marked the first time in 15 years that Worcester’s Engineers claimed consecutive victories over RPI. The Engineers finished 7-4 in 2015 with a postseason berth for the third time in school history (1992, 1991) and matched the best wins in the program (7) since the 1992 NCAA playoff team. Robertson had 11 all-conference selections (most in Liberty League history for a WPI team) and placed the highest amount (28) on the all-academic team. Their 4-3 record in Liberty League play also matched the most wins in conference since they entered the Liberty in 2004. In 2014, WP bested Union on Homecoming, defeated Merchant Marine on the road in overtime and knocked off Springfield for the first time in program history. The first four seasons have seen dozens of players earn All-Liberty League and various all-region honors. The team has enjoyed tremendous success in the classroom under Robertson’s watchful eye, taking home the most academic all-conference selections the past six years with over 150 players being recognized.

Prior to becoming 18th head coach to roam the sidelines of the Engineers, Robertson led a resurgence at Salve Regina. As the Seahawks first full-time head coach, he increased the win total nearly 50% over the previous four year period. A tireless recruiter, Robertson’s efforts resulted in a roster growth of 60 players in 2006 to 94 in 2009. In his final season at Salve, Robertson finished 4-4 in the New England Football Conference Boyd Division and placed seven players on the All-Division team. Just as impressive was the success in the classroom as Salve Regina placed 25 student-athletes on the NEFC All-Academic team, the second most behind MIT in the 16-team conference.

A defensive coach by trade, Robertson’s squads at both schools have drawn national recognition. In 2009 his Salve Regina team allowed the nation’s fewest yards passing per game only to see his WPI Engineers turn the trick in 2010.

During his first tenure at WPI, Robertson served as both the defensive coordinator and the head coach of the baseball team. On the gridiron, 15 of his players earned Freedom Football Conference or Liberty League All-Conference honors while four players distinguished themselves with All-New England and All-ECAC accolades Robertson’s baseball teams earned the program’s first ECAC selections, participating in the championships in both 2000 and 2004.

Robertson originally arrived on Boynton Hill after serving three years as an assistant under Ed Zaloom at Siena. In 1998 he was the Saints defensive coordinator after a two-year stint as linebackers coach.

“This is an exciting time to be a head coach at WPI,” commented Robertson. “When you combine the world-class reputation of the academics with the start-of-the-art athletic facilities, we are able to attract the highest level of student-athletes who are looking for the total package in their college experience. There is no better place to be right now than WPI.”

The 1996 graduate of the University of Albany was a three-year starter and captain of the football team. While playing for the Great Danes, the Deposit, NY native was a two-time GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American and Defensive Back of the Year in 1994. Robertson still ranks on the Albany all-time list in career interceptions with 10. The mathematics major also received his master’s degree in educational psychology from Albany.

The focus on training will be built around the specific needs of the player, regardless of age or ability. Speed, flexibilty, explosiveness, and agility will be incorporated into every workout so the athlete can take important pieces of every athletes tool box away from the workouts to do on their own. Position specific training is the most critical piece for all football players and becoming comfortable with the position, understanding the techniques associated with the position, and building each consecutive session in a direction to see and feel the improvements.