Robert “Bob” Lynn Stanclift

Private family services will be held for Robert Lynn Stanclift, 71, Lawrence. Burial will be held Oak Ridge Cemetery in Perry, KS. The family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. Monday, October 5, 2020 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. A viewing of the “live-stream” private family service will be able to be viewed at warrenmcelwain.com on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

Kansas’ all-time winningest softball coach Bob Stanclift died Sept. 29 in Monroe, N.C. Stanclift was 71 years old and a volunteer softball coach for Wingate University under head coach, and his daughter, Jamie Stanclift.

Robert was born on March 6, 1949 in Lawrence, the son of Raymond Earl and Virginia Lucille (Michael) Stanclift.

A native of Lawrence, Kan., Stanclift earned a bachelor’s degree in education from KU in 1972 and a master’s degree in physical education in 1976. He played baseball for the Jayhawks in 1972 and played two seasons semi-professionally. Following his baseball career, Stanclift returned to KU and coached both the volleyball and softball programs.

From 1976 to 1978, Stanclift guided the KU volleyball team to a 101-63-6 record, advancing to the AIAW Region VI playoffs all three seasons.

Stanclift led the KU’s softball team to an impressive 359-175 record in his 11 seasons from 1976 through 1987. In 1977, his first year at KU, the Jayhawks went 26-12, claimed its first-ever softball conference title advanced to the AIAW College World Series and finished seventh in the nation. The Jayhawks would return to the AIAW College World Series in 1979 (finishing ninth) and make trips to the NCAA Regionals in 1983, 1985 and 1986 under Stanclift. KU also won two more Big Eight titles in 1979 and 1983.

Stanclift coached six softball Jayhawks to seven All-America honors, 18 Jayhawks to 29 All-Big Eight selections, and led the Kansas to three NCAA tournament appearances in 1983, 1985 and 1986. He was named the 1986 NCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year. A member of Kansas Athletics’ K Club, Stanclift was inducted into the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

Following his KU coaching stints, Stanclift worked 24 years (1989-2013) as a recreation supervisor for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department before turning to volunteer coaching at the collegiate level under Jamie. He served as the volunteer assistant coach at Baker University the six years prior to joining the Wingate staff in summer 2019.

Survivors include his daughter, Jamie Stanclift; son, Brett Stanclift, both of Lawrence; two brothers, Mike Stanclift, Lawrence, Larry Stanclift, Salt Lake City, Utah; four nieces and four nephews; and great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at West Coast Saloon.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation https://www.yourcpf.org/donate-2/ or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13 ^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.