Oregon State University has fired Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama‘s older brother, as head coach of the men’s basketball team. But all is not lost for Robinson’s bank account.
The news of the termination was delivered on Monday, after Robinson headed the team for six years with a losing record of 93-104 and no NCAA tournament appearances. According to reports, the school will pay Robinson a whopping $4.2 million necessary to sever ties and buy out his contract.
This season the Beavers finished with a record of 16-16 and have begun to lose all of their starting players. It appears getting the team on the right track is a major feat since the last time the boys have seen an NCAA tournament was in 1990.
But Robinson’s tenure was not all bad, as he helped secure his sister as the commencement speaker for the 2012 graduation ceremony.
It remains to be seen where Robinson’s journey will take him next, but he definitely has an endorsement from brother-in-law President Barack Obama, who back in 2009 said, “Craig Robinson is an outstanding coach … Anybody in Oregon and anybody who knows sports knows he turned it around. He loves Corvallis and I’m sure that as a young, successful coach he’s going to start getting offers.”
Robinson is just two years Mrs. Obama’s senior.