When Robert Prince arrived at Humboldt in 1985, it was the beginning of a lifelong journey grounded in hard work, passion, and a deep love for football—not just the game, but the people who play it.
Now the wide receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins and last year’s recipient of the NFL’s prestigious Darryl Drake Memorial Award, Prince’s coaching résumé spans over three decades, including stops with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons. But before he worked with NFL stars like CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, Prince was a math major and walk-on wide receiver for Cal Poly Humboldt.
“I was planning on going back to the L.A. area and being a high school math teacher and football coach,” Prince says. But a pivotal moment changed his course. “Before I graduated, a position opened up at Humboldt, and Coach Mike Dolby asked if I wanted to be a graduate assistant. So my path changed from being a high school coach to being a college coach and now in the NFL.”
Robert Prince
That moment was the spark. Coaching, as Prince says, is his way of staying connected to the game he loves.
“If I could play football forever, I would have,” he says. “But the next best thing is coaching and helping young men reach a goal.”
Prince’s coaching philosophy goes far beyond technique and strategy. “Helping a guy succeed, that's kind of the thrill of coaching,” he says. “It's not just about the Xs and Os, it’s about making people better. Helping players become better men, better teammates, and better versions of themselves.”
That foundation was built in Humboldt’s redwoods and reinforced by friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Most of Prince’s favorite memories while at Humboldt are with fellow Lumberjack athletes.
“To this day, two of my best friends are from the team I played on. One was Darryl Womack (‘87, English), our quarterback and my college roommate. The other is Eddie Pate (‘88, Wildlife, ‘93, M.A. Sociology). We were the starting receivers together. We still talk, we still see each other. That’s what Humboldt gave me,” Prince says.
Prince fondly remembers practices in the Redwood Bowl, drives to the rocky coast in Trinidad, and quiet moments in the quad.
“It’s a beautiful area,” Prince says. “You could be among the redwoods, then 15 minutes later, be on the beach. The pace was slower than L.A., and that helped me focus and grow. The small classes, the relationships with professors, those things helped me succeed.”
Academically, Prince credits Humboldt’s math program—and his advisor Merle Freel—for guiding him early on.
“Math always made sense to me,” Prince says. “There’s always a formula. It’s plug and chug. That’s what I liked about it, it gave me structure.”
His graduate degree in physical education, now equivalent to kinesiology, was his launching pad into coaching.
“It was a major for coaching,” Prince explains. “That program and the opportunity to be a graduate assistant really gave me a new direction.”
That direction eventually led him to an NFL internship program with the San Francisco 49ers designed to support minority coaches. He completed internships with both the 49ers and Chargers before landing his first pro coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004.
Despite the high stakes and national spotlight of professional football, Prince remains grounded in what matters most: the people.
“Whether it's college or pro, it’s about the people you work with. Great environment, great coaches, motivated players, that's what makes it special,” Prince says. “And the NFL is the highest level. The best of the best.”
Now coaching at the pinnacle of the sport, Prince still carries Humboldt with him, in his values, in his friendships, and in his coaching style.
Robert Prince runs with a football pylon and a Miami Dolphins player in full practice gear during a training session.
“Hard work doesn’t guarantee success,” Prince says, “but it gives you the best opportunity for it. I learned that at Humboldt.”
Asked what advice he’d give to students considering Cal Poly Humboldt, he doesn’t hesitate: “You get to know your professors. You get support. It’s a place where you can grow. Humboldt was a great fit for me. I’ll always be proud to be an alum.”