He walked on at Old Dominion with zero scholarship offers from the D1 level — and left as a 4-year starter, team captain, and CAA Champion. Now Robbie Duncan is the Head Football Coach at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, building a program from the ground up in Hampton Roads.
In this episode of The Monarchists Podcast, Robbie sits down with Mike and Aaron to talk about:
🏈 Walking onto ODU's brand-new program in 2008 and turning a preferred walk-on spot into a full ride
🏈 The legendary 2010 ODU offensive line — Ryan Jensen, Brandon Carr, Jeremy Hensley, and the infamous "Prick of the Week" t-shirt
🏈 His (very good) impressions of Coach Bobby Wilder, Bro Scott, and Bill Dee
🏈 Why he turned down a shot at pro football because of a herniated disc
🏈 Building a coaching philosophy at Western Branch before taking over at NSA
🏈 The public vs. private school football debate — and why he thinks private programs get disrespected
🏈 The insane story of how he met his wife, Kelly (she hit his car)
🏈 A zombie apocalypse survival squad built entirely out of former ODU offensive linemen
🏈 Why the Norfolk Academy rivalry game is a must-see this fall
Whether you're a Monarch die-hard, a Hampton Roads high school football fan, or you bleed Saints green and gold at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, this one's for you.
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00:00 Intro — Welcome Coach Robbie Duncan
00:12 Falling in love with football (and a full-pads panic attack)
02:00 The coach who leveled up his game in high school
03:00 Why Northern Virginia keeps producing great offensive linemen
04:00 Why ODU: his Hall of Fame grandfather and choosing ODU over CNU
06:00 Redshirt year, 4-year starter, and winning a CAA Championship
07:00 The scholarship call at Nags Head — and getting bumped to full ride
09:00 Breaking down the legendary 2010 O-line — Jensen, Carr, Hensley & more
12:00 The "Prick of the Week" T-shirt story
13:00 Robbie's coach impressions: Bobby Wilder, Bro Scott & Bill Dee
17:00 Why he chose coaching over chasing pro football
19:00 Why ODU O-linemen keep becoming coaches
22:00 Learning the ropes at Western Branch High School
23:30 His coaching philosophy: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
27:30 Position coach vs. head coach — and how Madden helped him learn play-calling
30:00 Landing the head coaching job at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
32:30 Building culture and getting O-linemen to camp together
34:00 Public vs. private school football — setting the record straight
37:00 Keeping multi-sport athletes fresh and healthy
42:00 The state semifinal loss and NSA's new motto: "Raise the Stakes"
44:00 Play like it's your last — the Charles Walls story
46:00 Robbie's pitch to parents considering NSA football
48:00 What football teaches you about life
50:00 Family life — his wife Kelly and daughters Riley & Claire
52:00 LIGHTNING ROUND: How he met Kelly (she hit his car)
54:00 Ideal weight room music: Metallica, Disturbed & Pearl Jam
55:30 Zombie apocalypse squad: 3 former ODU teammates he'd bring
56:30 Superstitions and Jonathan Plisco's legendary pregame punt routine
58:00 Best pregame team meals — Spanish rice wins
1:00:30 The one NSA game you have to see this fall (Norfolk Academy rivalry)
1:02:00 Message to ODU fans & memories of beating JMU twice
1:04:30 The William & Mary "All Blacks" jersey reveal — an ODU history nugget
1:05:30 Closing — Go Monarchs
