Greg Robinson Greg Robinson ( born October 9 , 1951 in Los Angeles , California ) is an American football coach , most recently the defensive coordinator for Michigan . He was previously the head coach of the Syracuse Orange football team from 2005 until 2008 . Robinson also served as the co - defensive coordinator at the University of Texas during the 2004 season . Prior to his role at Texas , he was defensive coordinator for three teams in the National Football League : the Kansas City Chiefs under Dick Vermeil , the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan , where his team won two Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998 , and the New York Jets under Pete Carroll . Robinson was hired as head coach of the Orange in January 2005 after the firing of head coach Paul Pasqualoni , who had been Syracuse ' s head coach since 1991 . On November 17 , 2008 , with the Orange reeling from their fourth straight losing season under Robinson , and their only double - digit losing seasons in program history , it was announced that he would be fired from his coaching duties at the end of the season . He finished his tenure with a 10 – 37 record overall , and a 3 – 25 record in the Big East . Robinson finished up with the worst record in the history of the program . Off work in 2012 Robinson served as an assistant coach to Saint Francis High School ( La Cañada Flintridge ) . Saint Francis is coached by Jim Bonds who was a quarterback at UCLA when Robinson was an assistant coach . Early years . Robinson graduated from Garces Memorial High School in Bakersfield , California ; then attended and played at Bakersfield College , a junior college , before transferring to the University of Pacific . Following his hiring Robinson was praised by the Syracuse community for his public speaking abilities and likable personality . During his collegiate coaching career , Robinson was an assistant coach at North Carolina State University , Cal State Fullerton , UCLA and his alma mater , the University of the Pacific , in addition to his roles at both the University of Texas and Syracuse University . NFL . Robinson ' s tenure as defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos occurred during their Super Bowl ( XXXII & XXXIII ) seasons in 1997 and 1998 . Robinson ' s Bronco defense played superbly during the 1998 playoff run . The Broncos defense held the Miami Dolphins scoreless in the divisional playoffs , allowed only a touchdown as a result of a fumble on the one yard line against the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game , and then allowed a single touchdown to the Atlanta Falcons in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl after the outcome was secure . Syracuse . The team under Robinson ' s tenure started in a fundamental rebuilding stage , as several new assistants were also replaced upon Pasqualoni ' s departure . As such , Robinson installed a new West Coast offense scheme , replacing the option run style of offense previously run by Pasqualoni , as well as new defensive schemes . Robinson had a 10 – 37 overall record , and a 3 – 25 record in the Big East , which is the lowest winning percentage in a four - year span for the program . Two out of those four years , Robinson led the team into double - digit losing seasons , the only double - digit losing seasons in program history . By contrast , Pasqualoni only had one losing season in his entire " career " at Syracuse and only two in his head coaching career ( a 2 - 7 season at Western Connecticut his rookie year ) . In his final press conference as Syracuse coach , after the Orange had concluded a fourth straight losing campaign ( 3 - 9 ) , Robinson likened his relentless positivity to the famous children ' s story The Little Engine That Could , even pausing to read a description of the story directly from Wikipedia ' s page of The Little Engine That Could . Robinson , in the words of one reporter " defiant as always and perhaps in a bit of denial " , told the assembled press that in spite of his shortcomings at Syracuse , " I " still " think I can . " Robinson was fired November 17 , 2008 , two games before the end of the season . He had one year left on a contract that paid him $ 1 . 1 million per season . Michigan . Robinson was hired by Michigan on January 20 , 2009 as their defensive coordinator , replacing Scott Shafer . In 2009 , Michigan ranked 82nd of 120 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision and 9th of 11 teams in the Big Ten in total defense . In 2010 , the Wolverines ranked 110th of 120 teams in FBS and 11th of 11 teams in the Big Ten in total defense . Robinson was fired with head coach Rich Rodriguez and the majority of his staff on January 5 , 2011 .