Biography
Lynne Phelan Robinson has been associated with Mount St. Mary's athletics for 41 years as a player, coach and administrator. Robinson was named the Director of Athletics on Oct. 16, 2007, replacing Harold "Chappy" Menninger who retired at the end of the 2006-07 academic year.
"Throughout her career at Mount St. Mary's, Lynne has proven to be an outstanding leader who will be able to take our program to the next level of excellence," said former Mount President Thomas Powell. "Her reputation for integrity in athletics in the Northeast Conference is second to none."
"Very few women serve as Division I Athletics Directors, so I feel particularly honored that Dr. Powell has given me this opportunity," says Robinson. "I look forward to continuing to grow and improve Mount Athletics as a source of pride for our campus, our community and our alumni."
Prior to her appointment as the Director of Athletics, Robinson served as the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Operations since 1997. As the Associate Athletics Director, her roles in the department include serving as the Senior Women's Administrator, compliance and recruiting coordinator, providing supervision and oversight to the Mount's 22 intercollegiate sports teams, and assisting the Director of Athletics.
Robinson has been involved in numerous campus, Northeast Conference, and NCAA committees, including serving as an NCAA peer reviewer in the NCAA Division I Certification Program.
The daughter of the legendary Mount basketball coach and former Athletics Director Jim Phelan, Robinson was instrumental in establishing the Mount's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Champs/Lifeskills program. She has served as the Vice Chair of the Athletics Advisory Board since its inception in 1996, and she was actively involved in the Mount's three successful NCAA certification reviews.
A 1979 graduate of Mount St. Mary's, Robinson received her bachelor's degree in political science. She was a three-sport letterwinner in basketball, field hockey, and tennis. Her 12.9 rebounds per game in her sophomore year still ranks fourth all-time on the Mount's single season list.
She went on to coach the women's cross country and track teams from 1980 until 1988, coaching five All-Americans and numerous conference champions, in addition to serving as the department's coordinator of women's athletics. Robinson became the assistant athletic director in 1988, becoming the Mount's first NCAA compliance coordinator as the Mount gained Division I status. She received her master's degree in business administration from the Mount in 1983.
Robinson, who reside in Emmitsburg, is the proud mother of James, Kate and Mary.