Don Larson (American football)

Don Larson
Biographical details
Bornc. 1926
Princeton, Illinois, U.S.
Died(1994-11-29)November 29, 1994
Normal, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1946–1949Illinois Wesleyan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1954–1986Illinois Wesleyan
Head coaching record
Overall166–121–6 (football)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
5 CCI/CCIW (1964, 1965, 1974, 1977, 1980)
Awards
Football
CCIW Coach of the Year (1977, 1980)
6× NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year

Don "Swede" Larson (c. 1926 – November 29, 1994) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, for 33 years from 1954 to 1986. He compiled a career record of 166–121–6 and led the team to conference championships in 1964 and 1965, and conference co-championships in 1974, 1977, and 1980. He was selected as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Coach Of The Year in 1977 and 1980. He also played football at Illinois Wesleyan and was captain of the 1949 Illinois Wesleyan football team. He also coached the tennis, track, golf, and swimming teams at Illinois Wesleyan.[1][2][3][4][5]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Illinois Wesleyan Titans (College Conference of Illinois / College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) (1954–1986)
1954 Illinois Wesleyan 5–3 4–1 3rd
1955 Illinois Wesleyan 6–3 5–1 2nd
1956 Illinois Wesleyan 3–5–1 3–3–1 T–4th
1957 Illinois Wesleyan 1–7–1 1–5–1 7th
1958 Illinois Wesleyan 4–4 4–3 T–4th
1959 Illinois Wesleyan 6–3 5–2 2nd
1960 Illinois Wesleyan 7–2 3–2 T–2nd
1961 Illinois Wesleyan 2–7 1–5 6th
1962 Illinois Wesleyan 4–5 4–3 T–3rd
1963 Illinois Wesleyan 6–3 4–2 T–2nd
1964 Illinois Wesleyan 7–1–1 5–0–1 1st
1965 Illinois Wesleyan 8–0 6–0 1st
1966 Illinois Wesleyan 5–3 4–2 T–2nd
1967 Illinois Wesleyan 7–2 5–1 2nd
1968 Illinois Wesleyan 6–3 5–2 T–2nd
1969 Illinois Wesleyan 3–6 3–4 T–4th
1970 Illinois Wesleyan 5–3–1 5–2–1 3rd
1971 Illinois Wesleyan 5–4 5–3 T–2nd
1972 Illinois Wesleyan 4–5 4–4 6th
1973 Illinois Wesleyan 5–4 5–3 4th
1974 Illinois Wesleyan 8–1 7–1 T–1st
1975 Illinois Wesleyan 4–4–1 4–3–1 6th
1976 Illinois Wesleyan 6–3 5–3 T–3rd
1977 Illinois Wesleyan 6–3 6–2 T–1st
1978 Illinois Wesleyan 4–5 3–5 T–6th
1979 Illinois Wesleyan 7–2 6–2 T–2nd
1980 Illinois Wesleyan 7–2 6–2 T–1st
1981 Illinois Wesleyan 3–6 3–5 T–4th
1982 Illinois Wesleyan 4–5 4–4 T–5th
1983 Illinois Wesleyan 5–4 5–3 T–3rd
1984 Illinois Wesleyan 5–4 5–3 T–3rd
1985 Illinois Wesleyan 3–6 3–5 5th
1986 Illinois Wesleyan 5–3–1 4–3–1 T–4th
Illinois Wesleyan: 166–121–6 142–89–6
Total: 166–121–6
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Don Larson, 1949 Captain, New Football Coach: Wesleyan Picks Princeton Man To Handle Team". The Pantagraph. April 19, 1954. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Wesleyan football family fetes Larson". The Pantagraph. May 10, 1987. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Larson, IWU football part company". The Pantagraph. November 19, 1986. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Jim Barnhart (November 21, 1986). "Larson resignation not fair to coach". The Pantagraph. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Larson remembered as 'caring' coach, full of pride for IWU: Winningest Titan football coach dies at 68". The Pantagraph. November 30, 1994. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.