Joyce Robbins, a fixture in OSU football office since 1976, to retire next month
Published: 7/1/2010 3:15 PM
Last Modified: 7/1/2010 3:17 PM
Joyce Robbins works at her desk in August 2005. Tulsa World file
Robbins was the secretary to head coaches Jim Stanley, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Jones and Bob Simmons, and the administrative assistant to Les Miles and Mike Gundy.
If you know Joyce Robbins, you like Joyce Robbins. The following is a feature piece I wrote about Joyce in August 2005:
A position of trust
Robbins has been a strong right arm to six OSU football coaches
STILLWATER -- Within the Oklahoma State football offices, Joyce Robbins is regarded as a valuable resource because she does her job well -- and because she can keep a secret.
Being the administrative aide to a college football coach entails more than an ability to type and juggle phone calls.
It requires discretion and trustworthiness.
It requires the ability to keep a secret.
Stored in her memory's lockbox, Robbins admits, are "hundreds" of interesting secrets.
"Nobody has ever told me to keep quiet, but I just think it's expected. It's just part of the job," said Robbins. "If you run off and tell people what's happening in the football office, you've lost the coach's trust. It's such a big, public business. It's hard to keep things under wrap, anyway. But there are certain things that people just don't need to know."
Robbins has worked in the Cowboy football office since 1976 -- as the secretary to head coaches Jim Stanley, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Jones and Bob Simmons, and as the administrative assistant to Les Miles and current coach Mike Gundy.
"Joyce opens all of my mail," Gundy said. "She handles all of the phone calls. She's good with reminders. I trust her completely. This is like her second family."
In January, within hours of accepting the head-coaching position at LSU, Miles talked by telephone with a Tulsa World reporter.
After reminiscing about the events and people that defined his four-year run as the Cowboys' coach, Miles said, "I'll really miss Joyce Robbins."
"I could talk to Joyce about anything, and everything she did was in the best interest of the program and the head coach," Miles said this week. "I really respected everything about the way she did her job. She's a really smart, grounded lady, and I don't think I could have done as much if Joyce Robbins hadn't been there for me."
Before accepting the football job in 1976, Robbins was the executive secretary to OSU's vice president for student services.
In June 1998, Robbins' husband Russell died after a nine-year battle with colon, liver and lung cancer. He had been operations manager at Stillwater Municipal Airport.
Their son, Bruce, studied agriculture at OSU and now works in the cattle business in San Antonio. After her husband died, Joyce Robbins decided to retire at the end of the 1998 season.
A Perkins resident, she says she was "really pretty happy with being retired," but she was lured back to the OSU football program.
When Miles became coach in December 2000, he immediately called Robbins and offered Robbins her former job. Robbins countered with a request.
She no longer wanted to be a secretary. She wanted to be classified as an administrative assistant. Miles approved.
"I didn't think I wanted to go back to work," she said, "but I did it. I said yes." She returned to her desk in January 2001.
Now 63, Robbins says she has "no idea" when she might actually retire on a permanent basis.
"I have good health and I still love my job," she said. "If I reach a point where it feels like work, I'll think about retiring. Maybe I'll look at it again when I turn 65."
Robbins says she enjoys gardening and traveling. In recent years, she has visited Costa Rica, Jamaica, England and France.
She also enjoys football and attends every OSU game.
"I guess you could say that I love football. It's been part of my life for 30 years," she said. "I'm not an expert on football, by any means. I don't know much about it, really.
"I type up so much (paperwork) for the coaches, and I really don't know what most of it means. I'm just a fan."
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
