Stark, Larry

Larry Stark – (2000)

 

Already enshrined in the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame for his outstanding basketball and tennis playing career at Elyria High School and Kent State University, Larry Stark now occupies a place of honor in the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame for his basketball and tennis coaching achievements in Lorain from 1966 through 1999.

Stark debuted in Lorain as head basketball and track coach at the then-new Masson Junior High School where his team had winning records all three years and won two city junior high titles in basketball. This earned him a promotion to the equally new Southview High School, first as junior varsity basketball and head tennis coach.

Sparking his cagers with his aggressive coaching style, the JV Saints had winning seasons in four out of five years. Taking over as head Southview basketball coach in 1975, Stark’s inaugural season was highlighted by an undefeated conference championship and a stunning independent victory over Barberton, then Ohio’s No. 1-ranked scholastic team in the AP poll. That year he was conference Coach of the Year. It was a major breakthrough for Southview which had suffered through five straight losing basketball seasons.

In his 16 years as head basketball coach, Stark was conference and Lorain County Division 1 Coach of the Year six times. His teams won 281 games and on three occasions were ranked among Ohio’s AP Top 10 teams (once as high as fifth place) while advancing to the state regional tournament level three times. Stark’s Saints won eight sectional and three district championships. He coached the Ohio North All Stars to victory over the South All Stars in 1981.

As great as his basketball tenure at Southview was, Stark’s record as the Saints’ tennis coach is even more amazing. Serving in that role since 1969 through 1999 (and still going), he coached Southview tennis teams to 13 conference championships and an over-all 304 career victories. In addition, Stark himself would pick up additional tennis laurels by being selected Conference Tennis Coach of the Year 13 times over a 27-year coaching career. His combined record: 585 total victories in basketball and tennis.