University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
Robbins, C.J.
C.J. Robbins
- Title:
- Rush Ends Coach
C.J. Robbins joined the University of Minnesota football program in February 2025 as Rush Ends Coach.
Robbins comes to Minnesota from Central Michigan where he had a brief stint leading the defensive line.
Robbins spent the 2023-2024 seasons at Kent state. In 2023 he coached the rush ends and was also the co-special teams coordinator as well as the defensive recruiting coordinator. Prior to the 2024 season, Robbins was moved to linebackers coach and was promoted to special teams coordinator and the assistant head coach.
In 2022, he coached the outside linebackers at the University of South Dakota
Robbins was a graduate assistant at Minnesota during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In his first stint with the Gophers he helped mentor Boye Mafe (7.5 sacks) and Thomas Rush (5.5 sacks), who lead the Gophers in sacks in 2021. Both Mafe and Rush earned All-Big Ten honors in their careers. Mafe has turned in a solid career with the Seattle Seahawks and Rush has spent time with the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations.
Robbins started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with Miami (Ohio) in 2019. He worked with the defense and helped Miami capture the 2019 Mid-American Conference title and a bowl berth.
Robbins graduated from Northwestern in 2015 and was a three-year starter for the Wildcats. He ended his career in 2016 with a career-best 29 tackles including 5.5 for loss. Robbins was named Academic All-Big Ten two time times and the National Football Foundation honored him with its Mental Toughness Award for overcoming a pair of season-ending injuries in his career. He earned his Master
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern in 2015 and Master’s in 2016. He signed a free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans following the 2017 draft.
ROBBINS AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2025-present: Minnesota - Rush Ends Coach
2025: Central Michigan - Defensive Line
2024: Kent State - Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach
2023: Kent State - Rush Ends / Co-Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Recruiting Coordinator
2022: South Dakota - Outside Linebackers
2020-21: Minnesota - Graduate Assistant
2019: Miami (Ohio) - Graduate Assistant
Hometown: Peru, Illinois
Alma Mater: Northwestern, 2015 (undergraduate), Northwestern, 2016 (master's degree)
Robbins comes to Minnesota from Central Michigan where he had a brief stint leading the defensive line.
Robbins spent the 2023-2024 seasons at Kent state. In 2023 he coached the rush ends and was also the co-special teams coordinator as well as the defensive recruiting coordinator. Prior to the 2024 season, Robbins was moved to linebackers coach and was promoted to special teams coordinator and the assistant head coach.
In 2022, he coached the outside linebackers at the University of South Dakota
Robbins was a graduate assistant at Minnesota during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In his first stint with the Gophers he helped mentor Boye Mafe (7.5 sacks) and Thomas Rush (5.5 sacks), who lead the Gophers in sacks in 2021. Both Mafe and Rush earned All-Big Ten honors in their careers. Mafe has turned in a solid career with the Seattle Seahawks and Rush has spent time with the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations.
Robbins started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with Miami (Ohio) in 2019. He worked with the defense and helped Miami capture the 2019 Mid-American Conference title and a bowl berth.
Robbins graduated from Northwestern in 2015 and was a three-year starter for the Wildcats. He ended his career in 2016 with a career-best 29 tackles including 5.5 for loss. Robbins was named Academic All-Big Ten two time times and the National Football Foundation honored him with its Mental Toughness Award for overcoming a pair of season-ending injuries in his career. He earned his Master
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern in 2015 and Master’s in 2016. He signed a free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans following the 2017 draft.
ROBBINS AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2025-present: Minnesota - Rush Ends Coach
2025: Central Michigan - Defensive Line
2024: Kent State - Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach
2023: Kent State - Rush Ends / Co-Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Recruiting Coordinator
2022: South Dakota - Outside Linebackers
2020-21: Minnesota - Graduate Assistant
2019: Miami (Ohio) - Graduate Assistant
Hometown: Peru, Illinois
Alma Mater: Northwestern, 2015 (undergraduate), Northwestern, 2016 (master's degree)
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Demons
Saturday, September 06
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05
