WISE - - Robin Dotson is many things, and the coach of UVa-Wise's women's golf team is just one of them.

He is also a high school teacher, a high school golf coach, a high school basketball coach, and even a realtor. "I need to start slowing down a little bit," Dotson said.

His high speed pursuit of so many different jobs has not left him unsuccessful. As a high school basketball coach, Dotson has reached nine state championships over his career. He has led his team to victory in six of those appearances.

 Five of those victories have come during his time with Central High School, and one came during his time at J. J. Kelly High School.

For such an excellent career, it began in a surprisingly simple fashion. While Dotson was an assistant football coach at J. J. Kelly High School, the head coach of the boys' and girls' basketball teams decided to focus on the boys' team. "He gave up the girls and they asked me to do it," Dotson said. "That was in 1987, and I've been doing it ever since."

Dotson's 33-year career has involved many triumphs on the court, but he does not believe victories to be the most important part of coaching. For Dotson, the most rewarding part of coaching is found in mentoring young players.

He feels that the greatest rewards of coaching are "the relationships you develop with players and helping them reach their goals."

The passion he has for helping student-athletes is the same sort of passion he has in the classroom. "I just like to help students, help young people. I like working with young people," he said.

"I guess in some ways they're a lot easier to work with than adults," he laughed.

Dotson could "never" have imagined where his life would take him when he graduated from Clinch Valley College.

"I was a business administration major," he said. The degree has served him well. At Central High School, Dotson teaches "primarily economics and personal finance."

For Dotson, teaching business is an excellent way to help students. "It teaches them life skills … that they can carry on throughout their lives," he said.

Before he ever began his teaching career, however, Dotson wore yet another hat. "I ended up working in the insurance industry for three years before I started teaching," he said.

Dotson's passion for coaching began early in his life, an interest he refers to as the "itch to coach." Even as a college student, Dotson was involved in coaching.

Perhaps some of his love of sports comes from his days as a player. Even then, he kept himself busy with multiple sports. "I played football, basketball, and baseball."

Each of those are a sport he has coached at some point over the years, but they are by no means every sport he has coached. In addition to golf and basketball, Dotson said he has coached football, baseball, softball, and track.

Dotson acquired his coaching job with the Highland Cavaliers through UVa-Wise Director of Athletics Kendall Rainey. "[She] just approached me about it and asked if I'd consider it," Dotson said.

Dotson has come to UVa-Wise with a strategy in mind. "I've got to add some numbers to the team," he said. "I've got to start working … some more golfers in here and … look at trying to compete in the SAC, which is a very tough league all the way around in athletics."

While Dotson may be seeking to find additional student-athletes, he is very satisfied with the golfers already on the team. "The girls that I've got on the team are outstanding young women, good people to be around," he said.

For Dotson, it feels good to be back at UVa-Wise. "It's good to just be able to give back, and I want to be able to help our student-athletes succeed. We've got a fine educational program. I want to help build the golf program as well."

Although he has a history of coaching a variety of new sports, Dotson believes he is done with taking up sports he has never coached before. "I think I've found what I like to do," he laughed.

While Dotson may be an expert at handling multiple responsibilities, he admits that "sometimes it's not easy." "I've got some juggling to do, but I seem to get it all done," he said.

Under Dotson, the women's golf team finished fifth in the Bob Dibble Invite and fourth in the Upike Invite earlier this year.

As evidenced by Dotson's success as a coach, he does not take competition lightly, regardless of the sport.

"I've always played to win. That's why they keep score. So you have to go out and compete and prepare yourself the best you can to compete."