How Red Oak coach Melvin Robinson and son Brayden helped lead team’s rise, 4-0 start

RED OAK — It was once round this time closing season that Red Oak head coach Melvin Robinson was once thrown into the hearth.

Four weeks into Red Oak’s 2022 season, the team’s earlier head coach Tony Holmes stepped down, and Robinson, who in the past served as its move recreation coordinator, was once requested to take over the reins.

Robinson had over 30 years of training revel in with stops at South Garland, Sachse, Garland and DeSoto, so he wasn’t too fascinated with taking over a brand new position. However, one of the crucial greatest adjustments was once changing into his son’s head coach within the procedure.

After shedding the meantime tag in January, Robinson and his son Brayden, who’s a sophomore broad receiver at the staff this yr, have helped flip Red Oak into one of the crucial field’s best Class 5A techniques. After completing simply 2-8 in 2021, Red Oak has gained 13 of its closing 16 video games, together with a really perfect 4-0 start q4.

Brayden mentioned certainly one of his soccer objectives has all the time been to play for his dad. He did so on the adolescence stage however sought after that have once more.

Last fall, that dream got here to fruition, and the duo was once spotted around the state.

Melvin led Red Oak to the second one spherical of the playoffs after a large dissatisfied over Denton Ryan in time beyond regulation of the bi-district spherical. Brayden, as a freshman, changed into the team’s chief in touchdowns, hauling in 9 at the yr whilst including 489 yards and averaging 15.8 yards according to catch.

His school recruitment took off after the season, as he’s now a four-star recruit, consistent with 247sports, and the No. 13 broad receiver within the country within the Class of 2026 with 26 provides from colleges like Auburn, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M.

“Most colleges say if you’re a coach’s kid, you should know the game pretty well,” he mentioned.

This season, the father-son pair has endured to construct on closing yr’s luck. Red Oak’s 4-0 start incorporated a win over Lake Belton on ESPN and a 28-0 win over area-ranked Arlington Seguin in Week 2. The staff now sits at No. 9 in The Dallas Morning News’ newest 5A ballot.

Brayden is the team’s second-leading receiver at the back of four-star junior Taz Williams Jr. The coach’s son is certainly one of this yr’s captains and has 261 yards receiving and two touchdowns in simply 3 video games performed. He neglected closing week struggling with an harm however expects to go back this Friday vs. Killeen Shoemaker or subsequent week vs. Waco.

Melvin mentioned he’s noticed his son mature on and off the sector this season, which has been a objective of his for all of the staff. Discipline is their focal point, in addition to retaining grades up and keeping up eligibility.

According to Brayden, that paternal nature is what’s made his father a hit.

“The way he treats the program on and off the field is a big deal,” Brayden mentioned. “If you ask any of his players, he’s basically a father figure for anybody that needs it. The way he treats everybody, the way he carries himself is big for our program.”

If Red Oak maintains its sturdy start, it may well be on its option to profitable its first district identify since 2019. A Week 11 matchup vs. Midlothian will most probably resolve the 4-5A Div. I champion simply find it irresistible did closing yr.

With two and a part seasons left in combination at Red Oak, the father-son duo is eager for what they may be able to accomplish in combination — and how they may be able to proceed to carry a program already on the upward push.

“It’s always been a dream to play for my dad. It’s a great experience,” Brayden mentioned. “We want to leave a legacy here.”

On Twitter: @Lassimak

Find extra highschool sports activities protection from The Dallas Morning News right here.

Sign up for our FREE HS publication