Football Coach Bruce Larson was the head football coach at Somerset High School in western Wisconsin. He died suddenly at his home last Sunday.
Born of Bruce Larson
Bruce Larson was born in 1946 in Duluth, Minnesota. He was a three–sport star in high school, lettering in football, basketball, and track. He then attended the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship. As a Gopher,
Bruce played running back and was named an All–American in 1968. He was also a member of the track team, and still holds the school record in the indoor mile. After graduation, Bruce was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, but chose instead to pursue a career in coaching. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Duluth Central High School, where he coached football, basketball, and track.
He then moved on to the University of Wisconsin–Superior, where he coached football and track. In 1975, he returned to the University of Minnesota as an assistant football coach. He coached the defensive backs and helped the team to a share of the Big Ten title in 1976. In 1977, Bruce was hired as the head football coach at the University of North Dakota.
His Coaching history
He coached the team for four seasons, compiling a record of 24–16. He then returned to the University of Minnesota as an assistant coach for one season before being hired as the head coach at the University of Wyoming in 1982. At Wyoming, Bruce compiled a record of 41–17–1. His teams won two conference championships and made four appearances in bowl games.
He was named the conference Coach of the Year three times. He coached at Wyoming for six seasons before returning to the University of Minnesota in 1988. Bruce coached the Minnesota Golden Gophers for three seasons, compiling a record of 17–17. He then retired from coaching and became a real estate developer. Bruce Larson is a member of the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
SOMERSET, Wis. (WCCO) — A high school football coach who impacted more than just his community was laid to rest Saturday.
Community members packed the school gym last night to remember the man who touched so many lives.
“Probably the biggest role he played was something like a father figure. He was gentle, kind, funny, and humble,” one speaker at Saturday’s service said. “A man that looked out for his students and his athletes.”
The high school lit up the football field Friday night to honor Coach Larson. Larson’s son, who is also a coach, asked other schools to do the same.
That tribute even made it to the NFL. The Green Bay Packers lit up Lambeau Field last night in Coach Larson’s honor.
Coach Bruce Larson was the NFL’s 2014 High School Coach of the Year.
Source Link: https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/
