He didn’t play organized sports during his childhood and attended eight different schools through the eighth grade. At times, he lived with his father, grandmother, aunt as well as in foster homes and in the Colorado State Children’s Home.
However, challenging times led to a championship coach, one who gave back what was once given to him.
Yes, timing is everything. Just ask Gary Stanfield.
He became interested in basketball during his eighth-grade year at Maplewood Junior High School and eventually cracked the varsity rotation during his junior year at Eureka High School. It was there where his path crossed with a coach who tapped into his passion for the game and eventually recruited Stanfield and two of his teammates to play college basketball at John Brown University.
Ultimately, it led to Stanfield’s lifelong love of the sport.
“I was inspired to coach by the Eureka coach, George Parker. He came along at the right time with the right message,” Stanfield said. “He pushed all the right buttons, and I still remember a special note he penned in my yearbook. It read, ‘How one player can improve so quickly I’ll never know. Keep up the good work for next year.”
It was significant enough that Stanfield found his calling in coaching, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct a man who gave just about everything to the game of basketball. The induction is part of the Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy and scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
Stanfield earned 569 victories combined in the high school and college ranks. He compiled a 330-198 record in Missouri boys basketball at Weaubleau (1969-1973), Willow Springs (1973-1981), Hillcrest (1981-1984) and Republic (2008-2012).
At the state tournament, his 1980 and 1981 Willow Springs teams placed third and second, respectively; his 1984 Hillcrest Hornets won the Class 4 state championship; and his 2010 Republic team placed fourth in Class 4 in addition to winning the Blue and Gold Tournament in 2012.
Stanfield was 239-131 (.646) at Drury University between 1990 and 2004. His final team reached the NCAA Division II Sweet 16. He also guided teams to the 2000 D-II Tournament, the 1994 NAIA Tournament quarterfinals and the 1993 NAIA Tournament.
Every player who finished his eligibility graduated during Stanfield’s 13 years as Drury head coach.
“In my eyes, it was about the players. I wanted my players to improve and succeed,” Stanfield said. “Now, I’m sure I didn’t fulfill all the dreams of all the young men who played for me. But I tried to teach the fundamentals of the game and, at the same time, teach what was important in life.
“Yes, it was important that we won, but it was even more important how we won.”
Stanfield’s path initially led to Weaubleau, where he coached boys and girls basketball, among handling other tasks.
“I was young, wide-eyed and ready for another challenge when Willow Springs offered an opportunity to coach in their new gymnasium,” Stanfield said. “The last two years at Weaubleau were outstanding, and I thought I had this game figured out.”
However, it took time and the strategic hiring of a young junior high school coach, Brent Colley, to move the Willow Springs program forward, Stanfield emphasized.
In fact, Willow Springs might have won the state championship in 1981 had officials not waived off Darren Taylor’s apparent tying basket at the final horn.
Three years later, Stanfield earned a state championship at Hillcrest, whose 1984 team featured All-State center Tony King, forwards Mike Goggin and Kent Meador, and guards Jeff Dishman, Brian Stanfield and John Wallace.
With aspirations to coach at the college level and confident the Hornets and his sons were in good hands with coach Nate Quinn, Stanfield took the next step.
He left Hillcrest after the 1984 state championship in order to assist Marvin Walker, earning the promotion to head coach after seven seasons.
Among Stanfield’s recruits was Parkview High School standout Matt Miller, who rose to No. 3 on Drury’s all-time scoring list in the late 1990s.
“I really had a good experience there,” said Miller, who got to know Stanfield by attending Drury camps in his middle school and high school years. “He was demanding and wanted things done his way. But the good thing about him was that he genuinely cared about his players. It didn’t matter if you were in the starting five or on the bench.”
Stanfield came out of retirement to coach Republic, setting up its program well for success.
These days, Stanfield and his bride of 50 years, Sandy, are enjoying life with their sons Brian and Todd as well as five grandchildren.
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Want to go?
What: Basketball Tipoff Luncheon presented by Mercy
When: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10
Where: University Plaza Convention Center, Springfield
Inductees: Parkview High School’s “Jolly Green Giants” of 1964-1966; Missouri State’s 1952 and 1953 NAIA national championship men’s basketball teams; Jefferson City and Lady Bears standout Karen Rapier; and high school and college coach Gary Stanfield.
Filbert Five men’s team: Chris Harville (Rogersville/Missouri State), Steven Hill (Branson/Arkansas), Sam Singh (Ozark/Bradley), Mark Sparks (Neosho/Mizzou/Drury) and Kevin Williams (Nevada/Mizzou).
Filbert Five women’s team: Sara Bos Barnhart (Billings/Drury),Terianne Wolford Brown (Nixa/Mizzou), Laura Granzow Buetow (Kickapoo/Denver/Canisius), Alyson Young Hooten (Rogersville/Avila) and Anita Rank Oplotnik (Lincoln/Missouri Southern).
Tickets: Individual tickets are $40. Tables of eight are $400 and include associate sponsor recognition in the printed program. Call the Hall of Fame at 317-889-3100.