Larry Lacewell

Larry Lacewell (February 12, 1937 – May 17, 2022) was an American football player, coach, scout, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Arkansas State University from 1979 to 1989, compiling a record of 69–58–4. Lacewell was later the longtime director of scouting for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).

Larry Lacewell
Biographical details
Born(1937-02-12)February 12, 1937
Fordyce, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 2022(2022-05-17) (aged 85)
Playing career
1955–1958Arkansas A&M
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1959Alabama (GA)
1960–1961Arkansas State (assistant)
1965Kilgore JC (assistant)
1966Oklahoma (freshmen)
1967Wichita State (assistant)
1968Iowa State (DC/E/LB)
1969Oklahoma (DE)
1970–1972Oklahoma (DC)
1973–1977Oklahoma (AHC/DC)
1978Arkansas State (volunteer)
1979–1989Arkansas State
1990–1991Tennessee (DC)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1979–1990Arkansas State
1991–2004Dallas Cowboys (Director of college and pro scouting )
Head coaching record
Overall69–58–4
Tournaments6–4 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

Early years

Lacewell was a native of Fordyce, Arkansas. He attended Fordyce High School, where he played halfback. He accepted a football scholarship from Arkansas A&M College. As a junior, he was named second-team All-AIC at running back.

In 2003, he was inducted into the University of Arkansas at Monticello Sports Hall of Fame.[1]

Professional career

Lacewell began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama. He then moved on to coach at Arkansas State (1961), Arkansas A&M (1962-1963), Kilgore Junior College (1964-1965, winning the NJCAA National Football Championship), Oklahoma (1966), Wichita State (1967) and Iowa State (1968), before becoming defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 1969. Lacewell became assistant head coach under Barry Switzer in 1973, and the teams won six Big Eight titles and two national championships in the ensuing years.[2]

As the athletic director and head coach at Arkansas State University from 1978 to 1989. He compiled a record of 69-58-4, while capturing two Southland Conference titles and being named the conference's Coach of the Year on three occasions. He also led the program to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, with the 1986 team making it all the way to the championship game before losing to Georgia Southern. He left as the winningest coach in school history.[3]

In 1990, he became the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers under Johnny Majors. He contributed to the program winning the SEC Championship and defeating the University of Virginia in the Sugar Bowl. In 1991, the team finished second in the SEC and received a Fiesta Bowl invitation.

In 1987, he was inducted into the Arkansas State Athletics Hall of Honor.[4] In 1996, he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.[5]

Personal life

On May 21, 1992, he joined the Dallas Cowboys as the Director of College Scouting, replacing Dick Mansperger.[6] In the Spring of 1994, he was named the Director of College and Pro Scouting, adding the responsibility of coordinating the scouting efforts of all pro personnel.

After head coach Jimmy Johnson left the franchise on March 28, 1994, the subsequent drafts made by the Cowboys came under heavy scrutiny in the media and with the fans, as they were never able to replenish the talent base and holdovers of the Super Bowl teams of the early 1990s. In January 2005, two seasons after the arrival of head coach Bill Parcells, he retired and moved into a talent consultant role, while being replaced by Jeff Ireland, who was promoted to Vice President of Pro and College Scouting.[7]

Lacewell resided in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with his wife, Criss. He died on May 18, 2022.[8]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs NCAA#
Arkansas State Indians (Southland Conference) (1979–1986)
1979 Arkansas State 4–71–4T–4th
1980 Arkansas State 2–90–56th
1981 Arkansas State 6–53–23rd
1982 Arkansas State 5–62–3T–3rd
1983 Arkansas State 5–5–13–3T–3rd
1984 Arkansas State 8–4–14–1–12ndL NCAA Division I-AA Second Round10
1985 Arkansas State 9–45–11stL NCAA Division I-AA Second Round6
1986 Arkansas State 12–2–15–01stL NCAA Division I-AA Championship2
Arkansas State Indians (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1987–1989)
1987 Arkansas State 8–4–1L NCAA Division I-AA Second Round12
1988 Arkansas State 5–6
1989 Arkansas State 5–6
Arkansas State: 69–58–422–19–1
Total:69–58–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #NCAA Division I-AA Poll.

References
  1. "Larry Lacewell Hall of Fame bio". University of Arkansas At Monticello. October 17, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  2. "Arkansas Sports Hall of Famer, former ASU football coach, athletic director Larry Lacewell dies". May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  3. "UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY MOURNS PASSING OF FOOTBALL LEGEND LARRY LACEWELL". May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  4. "Larry Lacewell bio". July 30, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  5. "ASHOF Inductees - Alphabetical" (PDF). Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  6. "Lacewell leaves UT for Dallas". May 22, 1992. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  7. "Cowboys out to address defense". April 22, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  8. "Legendary Arkansas State football coach Larry Lacewell passes away". May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
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