Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email Address:
- Alma Mater:
- Saint Louis
- Graduation Year:
- 2011
Ayriell Robinson enters her third season as an assistant coach at Sam Houston in 2026–27. She joined Ravon Justice’s staff in August 2024 after spending three seasons as an assistant at Tennessee State.
Robinson helped the Bearkats finish 18–13 in 2025–26 and earn the program’s second WNIT appearance and first since 2013. Picked seventh in the Conference USA preseason poll, Sam Houston tied for third with an 11–7 league record and earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, its highest seed since joining CUSA. The 18 victories were the program’s most since 2019–20.
During Robinson’s first two seasons in Huntsville, Sam Houston led CUSA in both steals and turnovers forced. The Bearkats ranked sixth nationally in turnovers forced and 13th in steals per game in 2024–25. In 2025–26, the Kats collected 419 steals, averaging 13.5 per game, forced 25.0 turnovers per contest and led CUSA with a plus-7.32 turnover margin.
The Bearkats also earned significant individual recognition in 2025–26. Fanta Kone became the program’s first CUSA Defensive Player of the Year and received first team All-CUSA and All-Defensive Team honors, while Deborah Ogayemi earned second team All-CUSA recognition. Kone established a CUSA single-game record with 12 steals against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Before joining Sam Houston, Robinson served on Ty Evans’ staff at Tennessee State from 2021–24. The Tigers ranked among the nation’s top five in turnovers forced in both 2021–22 and 2023–24 and among the top five in steals per game and total steals in 2021–22. Her tenure included an Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, two first team All-OVC selections, one second team selection and two All-Newcomer Team selections.
Robinson previously spent two seasons as head coach at William Woods from 2019–21. In her first season, she guided the Owls to a 25–7 record, an American Midwest Conference Tournament semifinal appearance and a berth in the 2020 NAIA National Championship. Although the national tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, William Woods finished No. 25 in the final NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. Her first team produced two All-Americans and the AMC Defensive Player of the Year, and nine players earned academic all-conference honors.
Before William Woods, Robinson spent three seasons as an assistant at Lindenwood from 2016–19. She helped the Lions win the program’s first MIAA Tournament championship in 2018 and reach consecutive NCAA Division II tournaments in 2018 and 2019. Lindenwood recorded consecutive 20-win seasons during her final two years. Her tenure also included an MIAA Freshman of the Year, four all-conference selections and three conference all-tournament selections.
Robinson’s earlier coaching experience included one season at Southeastern Louisiana in 2015–16 and three seasons at Angelina College, where she helped the Roadrunners reach three consecutive NJCAA Region XIV tournaments and record a 20-win season in 2014–15. She began her coaching career at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, helping the varsity team finish 18–11 and reach the playoffs.
Robinson began her collegiate playing career at Fairfield before transferring to Labette CC, where she averaged 13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists and earned second team all-conference honors. She completed her career at Saint Louis from 2009–11, appearing in 59 games. As a senior, she averaged 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists and led the Billikens with 39 steals. She also led Saint Louis with a .391 3-point percentage in 2009–10.
Robinson earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Louis in 2011 and her master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2016. She also earned an associate degree in physical education from Labette in 2009.
