Robert Kirby, in his 36th year as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, returned to Georgetown for his second stint as an assistant coach prior to the 2017-18 season after spending the previous year at LSU. He coached on the Hilltop from 2010-12.
Kirby has been a part of Head Coach Patrick Ewing’s staff since his inaugural season and helped the program hit significant early milestones. In each of the last two seasons, the Hoyas have picked up major awards from the BIG EAST Conference, most recently with Jagan Mosely a recipient of the league’s Sportsmanship Award in 2020.  With a berth to the 2019 National Invitation Tournament, the Hoyas saw a return to the postseason for the first time since the 2014-15 season. In three years as a member of Ewing's staff, Kirby has helped the Hoyas to five wins over opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including a trio during the 2019-20 campaign.Â
Recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in Division I basketball, Kirby previously had coaching stints at LSU (2012-13, 2016-17), Memphis (2013-15), Georgetown, Mississippi State (1998-2010; 1989-93), Houston (1993-98), Southeastern Louisiana (1988-89) and UALR (1985-88). He has been involved in more than 580 NCAA Division I victories and 18 postseason squads.
Kirby, a Memphis native, has been recognized by Rivals.com as one of the nation’s top recruiters and HoopScoop as one of the country’s top assistant coaches. He is a recipient of the NABC Distinguished Years of Service Award. At Georgetown from 2010-12, Kirby was part of a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both seasons, helping to recruit consecutive classes ranked in the top 15 nationally, including Otto Porter Jr., who was a First Team All-American and National Player of the Year candidate.
Kirby spent 12 years as an assistant at Mississippi State, helping guide the Bulldogs to an average of nearly 21 wins per year, including a school-record 27 victories during the 2001-02 campaign. Kirby brought in several nationally-ranked recruiting classes to Mississippi State, was part of teams that had 10 postseason appearances, including six NCAA Tournaments, and he coached five All-Americans and 11 all-conference performers.
Kirby, a two-year basketball letterwinner and 1983 graduate of Pan American University (now known as Texas-Rio Grande Valley) in Edinburg, Texas, also coached at Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in 1984-85 and his alma mater as a student assistant in 1982-83.Â
