While a student at Stivers High School, Larry earned 3 letters in both basketball and cross country. He received “Special Mention, All-City” two years. He played one year at Wilmington College, then while attending the University of Dayton, served as head basketball coach at Shawn Acres Children’s Facility in 1960 and 1961.
After graduating from the University of Dayton, Larry was offered the head basketball position at Germantown High School. He declined that offer because he was offered and accepted the assistant coaching position at Stivers with basketball coach Vaughn Taylor. Larry also served as the cross country coach for 3 years. From 1967 until 1973, Larry was Stivers varsity basketball coach during the most tumultuous years for the city as the Dayton schools began bussing students.
With the presumed closing of Stivers as a high school in sight, and since Larry wanted to continue coaching, he accepted the head basket-ball coaching position at Wilbur Wright. His 1978-79 team won the Dayton Sectional Championship.
Larry was a highly respected coach who emphasized the importance of team play and sportsmanship. Larry’s former players compliment him for his example as a gentleman and fair coach who truly cared about their welfare and preparation for life after high school. Larry’s daughter Beth, husband Ralph Thieman and granddaughter Samantha live in Tipp City, Ohio. His son, Mark, wife Lee and grandson Mark Jr., who was an All Dayton Area basketball player this past season at Fairmont, live in Kettering, Ohio. Larry and his wife, Janet, reside in Kettering, Ohio also.
