Lawrence at his number retirement ceremony in January 2025. (Photo via Warwick Warriors Boys Basketball Facebook)
Warwick is bringing back one of its all-time greats.
Robert Lawrence, who had his number retired by the Warriors in January, has been hired as the new boys’ basketball coach. The school announced the news Wednesday afternoon.
“We are excited to have Coach Lawrence lead the bench and continue to support our boys on and off the court,” first-year athletic director Logan Kraft shared in a statement. “He brings leadership, culture and discipline. We are excited to see what he can do for his alma mater.”
Ryan Brown stepped down from the position in May after nine years. His run included a state tournament appearance in 2023. Lawrence and Brown happen to be first cousins.
In Brown’s final year, Warwick made it to the region tournament. Elijah Feather Jr. was named the Region 2 Senior Athlete of the Year, surpassing over 1,000 points in his career.
The 2024-25 roster had two seniors, four juniors, one sophomore, one freshman and two seventh-graders.
“I hold my athletes to expectations that I want fulfilled, not only on the court, but in the classroom as well,” Lawrence said. “I stand behind the meaning of being a student-athlete first.”
Lawrence takes over a program that returns four seniors: Aiden Black, TJ Longie, Monty Redfox Jr. and Gary Eversvik. Junior Anthony Touche was also one of the Warriors’ best players last year.
Warwick has had the most success in boys’ basketball among any sport, consistently competing at the Class B varsity level.
“I hope to accomplish and just establish a foundation for building the program up,” Lawrence said. “Not taking any steps backwards. Sometimes that happens, but I’m gonna do my best to try to keep the program going forward and succeeding.”
Warwick still deals with the disadvantage of being a small school. Historically, it hasn’t been gifted with the numbers and resources that other schools might have.
“Succeeding, to me, is not how many wins you get in a season,” Lawrence said. “It’s more satisfying knowing that I’m bringing a culture in showing the athletes dedication and responsibility, and what type of effort it takes to accomplish what you want done. And never have that ‘I give up’ attitude. … Everything is not easy. It’s not gonna be handed to you. You’ve gotta go out with the time and effort to earn what you want in this life.”
Lawrence was previously working at United Tribes Technical College as the college relations director. He also helped out the women’s basketball team, where his oldest daughter, Alionna, was a two-year starter. Alionna is now in her third year of college basketball at Bismarck State College. Robert and his wife, Mandi, have three younger kids as well: Presley (13), Harrison (11) and Wells (1).
“I’ve been kind of watching [Alionna] grow over the years, not just as an athlete, but as a young woman as well,” Lawrence said. “Learning life lessons, still — not just from me, but from being at that college level. So it makes me proud.”
Lawrence earned his Master of Education from UND last December.
“I come from the background that I’m actually the first to go to college and to graduate in my family,” Lawrence said. “And that’s one thing I always wanted to instill in my own children, was that education is very important.”
This fall, Lawrence came back to Warwick to work as the business manager for Warwick Public School.
“Warwick holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “I wanted to come back and help in any way that I can for the next generations to come. Just to kind of show them that just because of where you come from and how you’re brought up, doesn’t mean that you can’t be successful.”
Only a few months after starting his new job, Lawrence will take on the title of head coach.
“I had in the back of my head that if the opportunity ever came up, that I’d like to take a chance to do it and give back,” Lawrence said. “And teach life lessons not only on the court, but off the court, that my athletes can take out into the world.”
Lawrence was the Warwick head coach for two years back in the late 2000s. He recalled that both seasons were successful.
He brings a lot more life experience into his newest stint.
“That was the first year I started coaching anything. That was my very first time. And I jumped right into a head coaching role,” Lawrence said. “So it was new to me. I was young. I would almost say immature at the time, experience-wise. What I look back on then, from how I did things, to what I would change now, is I bring more of a mature, experienced, level-headed coaching style.”
As detailed in a February Journal article, Lawrence left a mark on the area during his playing days. From 1998 to 2000, he scored nearly 1,800 points, which was a Warwick record at the time. He was a Mr. Basketball runner-up in 2000.
Lawrence went on to have success at the next level for Lake Region State College and Mayville State University. He ranks second all-time at LRSC in scoring. He also received an All-American honor in his time there.
“Beyond his personal accomplishments, Robert’s passion for basketball extends into mentoring and developing young athletes,” Kraft said in a statement. “He believes the game serves as a powerful tool for teaching character, discipline, teamwork and leadership — values he strives to instill in every player he coaches.”
Lawrence still hoops when he can, too. He stays active in amateur basketball tournaments when his schedule allows for it.
“Things are getting a lot busier now with schedules for my kids,” he said. “And I kind of put my stuff on the backburner so they know that I can be there to support them.”
The Warwick boys’ basketball season is set to begin Dec. 15 on the road against Hatton/Northwood. The school is also in the process of hiring a new coach for the girls’ team.
