F.D. Robbins photograph collection

Collection

Identifier: P1915

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The F.D. Robbins photograph collection consists of 2 boxes containing photographs and negatives of the University of Utah Men's tennis team dating from F.D. Robbins' time as coach, from 1980 to 2014. The images were collected or created by Robbins and depict group and individual portraits of tennis team members. Box 1, consisting mostly of team photos, was donated first and organized chronologically. Box 2, was tranferred later and consists of mostly individual player photos, organized by year. Organization and identification of the collection was done with assistance from Alfred Mowdood and Assistant Coach Graeme Cox between 2014 and 2018.

Dates

1980-2014

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

F.D. Robbins was born Franklin Dale Robbins, Jr. in Utah in 1950 to Helen Jean Stokes (1927-2005) and Franklin Dale Robbins, Sr. (1922-2012). F.D. Robbins began playing tennis as a youth. While attending Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah, Robbins was the Utah high school singles champion and was the number two ranked player in the United States in the under-18 singles and doubles divisions. He represented the United States at the International Junior Sunshine Cup and between 1966 and 1971 competed for the National Junior Davis Cup team.

In 1969, Robbins enrolled in the University of Utah. As a collegiate player at Utah, Robbins played the number one singles position all four years and reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament quarterfinals in 1970. He also won the National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships and achieved All-America status twice. Robbins graduated from the University of Utah in 1972 with a degree in finance. After completing his collegiate career, Robbins played on the pro circuit and ranked as high as 20th in the nation in singles and 10th in doubles. He competed in the U.S. Open three times, reaching the third round once.

F.D. Robbins returned to the University of Utah in 1981 when he took a position as an assistant to head coach Harry James. During that time, he helped coach Greg Holmes to the 1983 NCAA Singles Championship and an All-America selection. In 1987, Robbins became the head tennis coach for the University of Utah. As head coach, he compiled a 364-345 career record. Utah qualified for five NCAA tournaments under Robbins: in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1996 and 1997. The team won four conference titles: 1987, 1989 and 1990 Western Athletic Conference and 2008 Mountain West Conference.

Robbins was named Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990. Additionally, Robbins was inducted into the Utah Tennis Hall of Fame, the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame. He was the head tennis professional at the Salt Lake Sports Mall for 14 years and held the same position at the University of Utah Eccles Tennis Center. F.D. Robbins retired from the University of Utah in May 2014 after 28 years of service. With his wife Sherry, Robbins had four children.

Source: Adapted from University of Utah Athletics. (2012). Coaching Staff: F.D. Robbins. (2012). In 2012-13 Men's Tennis Media Guide. University of Utah Athletics. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6rc02hp

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (2 archives boxes) : 331 items

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

F.D. Robbins served as head coach for the University of Utah men's tennis team from 1987 to 2014. This colleciton contains black-and-white and color photographs of the University of Utah Men's tennis team and player photos dating from Robbins' time as assistant and head coach, from 1980 to 2014.