Robert graduated in 1971 from Ripley High School in Ripley High School in Ripley, Mississippi. A four-year letter-man in football, basketball and baseball, he was All-Conference two years in football and All-State in both basketball and baseball his senior year. Robert was signed to a scholarship by Northeast Mississippi Junior College following high school, playing football and baseball. He was the MVP of the Northeast Baseball team in 1973 and was signed to a scholarship at Florence State. As a Lion, he was a two-year starter and the most valuable defensive player in 1975. After graduating he went on to coach baseball, girls basketball, football, and cross country at Deshler High School from 1975-1989. He led the baseball team to the state finals in 1982 and the semi-finals in 1987. Under his guidance, the Lady Tiger basketball teams won 12 county titles, appeared in the state tournament eight times and won the State Championship in 1985. In 1985 he was named Alabama State Coach of the Year. In 1989 he became the head baseball and an assistant football coach at Muscle Shoals. He led the Trojans to the state playoffs seven times in baseball. Robert is now retired from Alabama and continues to teach in Tupelo, Mississippi.