Robert John Duax Sr. (October 26, 1919 – December 18, 1997) was an American athlete, coach, and politician. He was an All-Chicago football player and a star halfback for the St. Joseph's College football team. From the early 1940s through the 1990s, he was a coach, instructor and administrator, including 16 years as the head basketball coach and nine years as the athletic director, at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He earned a reputation as a basketball innovator and strategist and founded the St. Ambrose women's basketball team, serving as its first head coach from 1975 to 1977. He also held several political offices in the 1960s and 1970s, including service as mayor of Davenport from 1976 to 1977.