By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. — Robert Dillard was there before the fancy buildings, the trips to the NCAAs, before there was even college gymnastics in Alabama.
Robert Dillard, one of the pioneers of gymnastics in the state and Auburn's coach from 1986-1998, passed away Sunday night. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood, in 2005.
Dillard helped gymnastics find its way in the state, first coaching a YMCA team in Huffman, then winning national titles at Jacksonville State. He led Auburn to 10 NCAA regionals.