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Coach Bob leaves a lasting impression
Coach Bob leaves a lasting impression
On March 11th, Lincoln City community members and kids alike learned sad news that a beloved coach and community member, Bob Stricklan, better known as Coach Bob, had passed away.
Immediately following the melancholy news, outpourings of positive remarks flooded in.
"Coach Bob was about the kids and loved basketball. He stayed in touch with many of his players, went to most home basketball games, and, full circle, coached with one of them." M. Chapman
Coach Bob's appearances at the Tigers' home games this year were sparse, as he was struggling with illness, but his heart was always there. Hanging in the gym, a banner for free throws, as Bob and his father, Bill Stricklan, started a sponsorship to donate a dollar for every made free throw. Bob liked to sit behind the benches in the first row, eat his evening snack, which generally consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich packaged in a bread loaf bag, and maybe a bag of chips.
"He was always so supportive of the kids from grade school and up". K. Berkey
For decades, Coach Bob could be found at the Lincoln City Community Center gym coaching a 5-6th-grade boys' basketball team for Parks & Recreation, a role he held for over 20 years. He didn't care about wins or losses. He often joked he was trying to beat Junction City's Craig Rothenberger's all-time win record (715), but the opposite. Coach Bob had ties to Junction City, raising a family, and his son Chris played basketball for Rothenberger.
Coach Bob focused on developing players, many playing hoops for the first time. In a Facebook post from 2020, with only 5 kids that day, Bob said, "Had a great last game. A win in overtime. Everybody scored, everybody played defense." And that embodied Coach Bob. He wanted to make sure each kid on his team had a chance to score and feel important, and most of all, have fun.
"Bob and I had a moment coaching where we talked about why we do this. I loved it because he was an advocate for women coaches and talked to boys about why women can do it all too. We coach so we help kids, and they love the game. He played to win for kids, and they felt like winners because of it", added Majalise Tolan.
In late January, while in attendance at his last Taft basketball game, Coach Bob was presented with the Lifetime Tiger Award. The award recognizes community members who have devoted countless hours of volunteer service and support to Taft athletics over many years.
"Make your free throws", a message frequently relayed to Kol Tolan. "Coach Bob called me Orange Mamba and always told me to make my free throws and fist bump."
There is no doubt that Coach Bob has made a lasting impact on hundreds of Lincoln City kids over the years. His coaching style and messaging were always on point and positive.
Coach Bob will be greatly missed in Lincoln City! Whether it be on the basketball courts of the Community Center or Taft High, or the sidelines of a football game.
No updates at this time for a Celebration of Life. Once more information is confirmed, we will create an update.
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