Sports | Craig Robinson Oregon State Hoops Hope for Change They Can Believe In Obama brother-in-law takes over losing team By Katherine Thompson Posted Nov 9, 2008 1:35 PM CST Copied Oregon State men's basketball coach Craig Robinson, who is also the brother-in-law of President elect Barack Obama, watches Calvin Hayes during practices in Corvallis, Ore., Wednesday Nov 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens) Barack Obama isn't the only man in his family to face the daunting task of taking the helm of a struggling institution. The New York Times reports that brother-in-law Craig Robinson returns from stumping for Obama to his day job—coaching the Oregon State men's basketball team back from a 21-game losing streak. “Before this whole economy thing, I would have said that we had a bigger rebuilding job,” Robinson says. While some think that Robinson's connections may unfairly draw recruits to Oregon State, the coach's history shows a careful separation of sports and politics. As a man who left a lucrative finance career to follow his passion, Robinson's priorities are clear. "This is about the rest of their life," he says of leading his team. Read These Next 3 police officers were killed and 2 injured in southern Pennsylvania. A big shake-up at the top of Ben and Jerry's hierarchy. Man initially detained in Charlie Kirk case has been charged. ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel under pressure. Report an error