Craig Robinson ’83, the brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama ’85, will deliver the Baccalaureate address for the Class of 2026 on May 24. Robinson currently serves as the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), a role he has held since 2020.
“I was so honored and surprised,” Robinson told The Daily Princetonian. “It took me all of 20 minutes to figure out my schedule on the 24th and say yes.”
The baccalaureate service is one of Princeton’s oldest traditions, dating back to 1760. The earliest recorded address was delivered by Samuel Davies titled “Religion and Public Spirit.” In recent years, Baccalaureate speakers have included Chair of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell ’75, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos ’86.
At Princeton, Robinson majored in Sociology, writing his thesis titled “The Nature of Informal Social Structures within a Prison.” Outside of the classroom, Robinson was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year on the men’s basketball team. His 1,441 career points and 534 made field goals are respectively the seventh and fifth highest tallies in Tiger history.
The team won three Ivy League titles and earned two wins in the NCAA tournament under legendary Head Coach Pete Carril while Robinson was on the team.
His younger sister Michelle Obama followed him to campus, graduating with the Class of 1985.
“Princeton has meant a lot to me and my family and going to Princeton absolutely changed my life, so I’m looking forward to the 24th,” Robinson said.
The Baccalaureate speaker is selected by the Committee on Honorary Degrees and approved by the Board of Trustees. The Committee on Honorary Degrees includes trustee members as well as members of the Council of the Princeton University Community’s Committee on Governance, who deliberate together as a single committee in making the selection.
Members of the committee did not respond to a request for comment.
“I’m still sort of processing the fact that I’ll be doing this, but what I’ll say is I hope I’ll be interesting for the students who are graduating,” Robinson said.
After graduating, Robinson played professional basketball in the United Kingdom before returning to the United States to begin his coaching career as an assistant at the Illinois Institute of Technology. After two years, he transitioned into finance, earning an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and working in the industry before returning to basketball in 1999.
Robinson served as head coach at Brown University and Oregon State University. After six seasons at Oregon State, he spent three years with the NBA’s New York Knicks as vice president of player development and G League operations and has also served as a basketball analyst for ESPN.
Robinson was also a visible surrogate during Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, speaking at rallies, meeting volunteers, and appearing at events across early key states. His involvement reflected a personal confidence in Obama’s character and leadership, shaped through years of family connection.
Since 2020, he has served as executive director of the NABC, where he leads national initiatives on coaching standards, student-athlete well-being, and the future of men’s college basketball.
Robinson served as a member of Princeton’s Board of Trustees from 2018–22.
“I’m hoping that I won’t sound like one of these old men who is talking about back in my day,” Robinson told the ‘Prince.’ “[I’m] just hoping that whatever I end up sharing means something to as many as possible.”
The Baccalaureate ceremony will take place in the University Chapel and will be livestreamed.
Hayk Yengibaryan is a head News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif. and typically covers breaking news and profiles. He can be reached at hy5161[at]princeton.edu.
Andrew Arthur is a staff News writer from London, England and is on general assignment.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
In new books, Eisgruber and history professor Fara Dabhoiwala offer sharply different views of free speech
Cynthia Torres and Gray CollinsIn two books authored this fall, University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 and history professor Fara Dabhoiwala offer two sharply diverging views on how universities should navigate free speech.
In two books authored this fall, University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 and history professor Fara Dabhoiwala offer two sharply diverging views on how universities should navigate free speech.
Tigers lose national championship 2–1 in sudden death to reigning champion Northwestern
Emilia ReayAfter leading 1–0 heading into the fourth quarter, the Tigers fell in double overtime to the defending champion Northwestern Wildcats in an all-time classic.
After leading 1–0 heading into the fourth quarter, the Tigers fell in double overtime to the defending champion Northwestern Wildcats in an all-time classic.
Men’s soccer upset by Duke in heartbreaker NCAA second round
Xavier LatimerNo. 3 men’s soccer fell 2–1 to Duke in the second round the NCAA Tournament, giving up two second-half goals after taking a 1–0 lead in the first.
No. 3 men’s soccer fell 2–1 to Duke in the second round the NCAA Tournament, giving up two second-half goals after taking a 1–0 lead in the first.