Robbie Whitney

In April 2024, Robbie Whitney was announced as the 11th head coach in the history of the St. Francis Boys Basketball program. As a 2016 graduate of St. Francis High School, he was a two-time all-conference forward who played on the 2014 and 2015 section championship teams. A two-time captain for the Fighting Saints during his playing days under Coach Ryan Hauge, Coach Whitney was a swiss-army knife of sorts on the basketball court, tallying 686 career points, 298 rebounds, 182 assists, 88 steals,  and shooting 48.5% for his career - thresholds that have only been met by two other players in the history of St. Francis Boys Basketball - Andy Julkowski (2012) and Matthew Bothun (2022).

After he finished his high school career, Robbie went on to play basketball at Bethel University for 4 years under the tutelage of Coach Doug Novak, a coach that had a profound impact on the way that Robbie saw and studied the game. As a member of the Bethel Men's basketball team, Coach Whitney was a part of one of the most successful runs in school history - appearing in two conference championship games, winning the 2017 MIAC Championship, qualifying for the 2017 D3 NCAA tournament, and accumulating a career record of 77-32 as a Bethel Royal.

Following his playing days at Bethel University, Coach Whitney immediately jumped into coaching the JV team for St. Francis during the 2020-21 season under the leadership of Head Coach Kyle Waterworth. Many of the players that he was able to coach on that JV team went on to have big roles for the St. Francis Varsity team that would make a run to the 2023 AAA State Tournament.

After his one-year stint at St. Francis, he accepted the Varsity Head Coaching position for New Life Academy - a small, single-A school located in Woodbury, Minnesota. During his tenure at New Life, he was able to lead the team to the two most successful seasons in school history. During the 2021-22 campaign, New Life Academy was able to achieve a 28-4 overall record, clinch a share of the Skyline Conference championship, win the Section 4A championship, and place 3rd in the Class A state tournament. The following season (2022-23), the Eagles were able to achieve a 26-6 record, win the Section 4A championship again, and place 2nd in the Class A state tournament. In his two seasons at New Life Academy, Coach Whitney accumulated an overall record of 54-10 (including a 10-2 record in section and state tournament play). He coached six players who received all-conference accolades, four players who received all-state honors, three 1000 point scorers, and two players who finished their careers as New Life Academy's career assist and block leaders.

Because of the success that New Life Academy was able to achieve during his two years, Coach Whitney was able to earn an opportunity to work as a Graduate Assistant for the Augustana University Men's Basketball program under Coach Tom Billeter for the 2023-24 season. As a graduate assistant for the Division 2 basketball powerhouse, Coach Whitney was able to help in many areas throughout the program, including player development, recruiting, daily basketball operations, handling meals for home and road games, and creating graphics for social media.  Coach Whitney also helped the Vikings to a 19-11 overall record, a 12-3 record over the final 15 games of the season, defeat the #8 team in the country on their home court, have two all-conference honorees, three conference players of the week, and one player named to the All-Region team.

As Coach Whitney returns to St. Francis, this time as the Head Varsity Coach of a program that helped his growth as a young man, he is excited for the challenges and victories that lie ahead. He shares, "It is truly an honor to get to coach for a program that has meant so much to my development as a young basketball player in St. Francis. During my time playing basketball for St. Francis In-House, Traveling, and High School programs, I was blessed enough to have many coaches who poured into me, both as a player and a young man. I would not be the person I am today without St. Francis Basketball, and I want to be able to pass that down to the next generation of Fighting Saints! I love developing deep, genuine relationships with my players and using basketball as a tool to teach so many life lessons. Wins and losses will come, but I hope that I can be a coach that helps our players grow as athletes and people on and off the court. I love this program, this school, and the entire St. Francis community, and I'm excited for what the future holds. I know that God is going to do amazing things during my tenure as head coach."