When Seagoville takes the field Friday night in Palestine, the Dragons will find a new coach directing the opposing sideline. For Palestine, though, Ty Robinson is far from a stranger.
Robinson returned to Palestine High School this spring after previously serving as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator from 2010 through 2013.
Palestine ISD trustees approved him as the program’s new head coach in May, bringing back a coach with more than 27 years of experience and a recent track record of rapid program turnarounds.
The newly-hired coach replaces James Reyes, who moved into the district’s athletic director role after two seasons leading the football program.
Robinson inherits a Wildcats team coming off consecutive 1–9 seasons, but his history suggests he will not be intimidated by the rebuilding task ahead.
A Proven Turnaround at Crawford
Robinson’s most recent stop illustrates why his hiring has generated interest around Palestine. He took over at Crawford before the 2025 season after the Pirates had finished the previous year at 3–9.
Crawford improved to 10–2 in Robinson’s only season, capturing a district championship and restoring the program almost immediately. The seven win improvement ranked among the largest turnarounds in Texas high school football last season.
Nine Seasons of Success at Woodville
Robinson’s success did not begin at Crawford. He spent nine seasons as head coach at Woodville, compiling an overall record of 80–28, according to Palestine ISD, while building the Eagles into consistent playoff contenders.
His signature season came in 2024, when Woodville advanced to the Class 3A Division II state championship game, the first state title appearance in program history, along with multiple district championships during his tenure.
That sustained run matters for evaluating Robinson: Crawford proved he could deliver immediate results, while Woodville proved he could sustain success over the long term.
A Football Family
Robinson’s ties to Texas high school football extend well beyond his coaching resume. A Bremond native, he grew up in a football family and played for his father, longtime Texas coach Wendell Robinson.
Ty was part of Bremond’s 1993 team that reached the Class 1A state championship game, and his brother, Bo Robinson, also became a respected Texas high school football coach.
Robinson’s own coaching path has included stops at Palestine, Jasper, Carthage, Agua Dulce, Overton and Yorktown before his extended tenure at Woodville.
Coming Home to Lead the Program
Robinson’s move to Palestine carries personal significance. He already knew the district from his years coaching defense there and maintained relationships in the community after leaving.
Palestine ISD said Robinson wants to build the Wildcats around effort, unity, discipline and pride, with an emphasis on player development and accountability.
Those goals cannot be measured in a single preseason game, but Friday night offers the first real look at how quickly they are taking hold.
What Robinson Inherits
Robinson is not starting from nothing. Palestine returns 32 lettermen and 16 starters, including nine on offense and seven on defense, giving the new staff considerably more experience to work.
Robinson’s history of adjusting his offensive approach to fit available personnel, shifting between run heavy and spread concepts throughout his career, makes Palestine difficult to scout entering Week 1.
A New Era Begins
Palestine has not posted a winning season since 2020 and won only two games combined over the previous two years.
A strong coaching resume does not erase those challenges on its own, but Robinson has faced similar rebuilding situations before.
That history is what makes Friday’s opener more intriguing than Palestine’s recent record might suggest. The Wildcats simply need to be better than they were a year ago, and Robinson was brought in to make sure that process begins.
