Bob Larsen closes out successful career at UCLA

By Moin Salahuddin

Daily Bruin Staff

Bob Larsen’s quiet, timid appearance is quite
deceiving.

Behind the humble smile of the now-retired UCLA track and field
coach is one of the greatest and most vivacious coaches in
collegiate history.

A four-time NCAA and nine-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Larsen
has managed to hide his emotions during his 21-year tenure at
UCLA.

“I’m sure if you’ve ever talked to Bob, he
doesn’t show much emotion,” said senior 800-meter
All-American Jess Strutzel.

But Strutzel added that after he defeated Olympian Johnny Gray
earlier in the season, and after he won the NCAA Indoor 800-meter
title, Larsen had “the biggest smile on his face.”

“That was the coolest thing in the world. That’s
what running is about ““ when you can make Bob smile like
that.”

Larsen has had much to smile about in his stay at UCLA ““
an unparalleled 118-3-1 dual meet record, two NCAA championships
and numerous individual titlists.

But the most impressive part of Larsen’s repertoire might
be his record against crosstown rival USC. During Larsen’s 21
years in the Bruin track and field program, UCLA never once lost to
the Trojans in a dual meet.

“That is a true testament to Larsen’s ability to
coach,” current head coach Art Venegas said.

Fifteen years as head coach of UCLA track and field and 21 as
the head of the cross country team have resulted in many wondrous
moments for Larsen. With so many to choose from, he said he would
not be able to pick just one as his favorite.

“Every season, there are numerous achievements that have
stood out in every single team,” Larsen said.
“Obviously, winning the NCAA titles, Pac-10 titles, and close
dual meets are up at the top of the list.”

The accomplishments Larsen mentioned include Mebrahtom
Keflezighi’s four NCAA titles in 1997, the 1999 distance
medley relay team setting an American record indoors of 9:33.17,
and Strutzel winning the 800 meters at the 2000 NCAA Indoor
Championships.

There was also the cross country team’s first-ever
appearance at the NCAA championships in 1980, when Larsen first
joined the Bruins.

“I can go on and on,” Larsen said. “I
can’t narrow it down to just one highlight. But when you get
a team title ““ when you get a lot of guys coming together
doing really well ““ there is something special about that.
When a whole team is really challenged, and they all come through
““ those are always highlights of any particular
year.”

Every season Larsen has taken his squad into the highest echelon
of competition. He has an innate sense that makes him able to
maximize the talent of his athletes ““ especially while
limited to only 12 scholarships.

“Larsen knows his runners so well,” Strutzel said.
“He knows their personalities and knows what makes them tick
and how to get them going. People have buttons that can be pushed
to make them react.

“He pushes my buttons pretty well.”

An example of Larsen’s coaching prowess could be seen in
the performances of junior Mason Moore and senior Dan Brecht in the
3000-meter steeplechase this season. Both Moore and Brecht
dramatically improved in the grueling event, running to huge
personal-bests around 9:00 and placing in the top four in
conference.

“It was really enjoyable because I had a little more time
to spend with the athletes,” Larsen said of his final season.
“The guys responded really well and accomplished quite a
bit.”

“That’s the luck of athletics and what makes it
interesting and exciting ““ it doesn’t always come out
exactly as you planned.”

Serving as an assistant coach under Venegas this year, Larsen
said this season was tough because the team didn’t have the
year they expected.

But for Larsen, being able to concentrate on the workouts and
races and not have to do all the paperwork and telephone calls made
this season more enjoyable and relaxing.

“I’ve got to savor this last season with the
collegiate guys,” he said.

The “guys” are what Larsen will miss most. They
range from walk-ons to members of the U.S. record-setting distance
medley relay team.

“Working with athletes, the real fun is the time in the
afternoon with the workouts and also at the races,” Larsen
said. “I think that’s what every coach enjoys.
They’ll put up with all the paperwork to have the enjoyable
part of it ““ the close association with some great
guys.”

While Larsen’s career at UCLA is over, the distance
specialist will take his two star pupils, Keflezighi and Strutzel,
to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento in mid-July.

Larsen intends to be a fixture in professional running for
awhile yet.

He frequently travels with his runners during the summer to
places such as Europe to give them exposure to some of the
world’s best competition.

“We’ll see about the Olympic Games,” he said.
“We’ve had so many guys go through our program in
different events that have qualified. It’s always an exciting
summer when the Olympics are around.”

As Larsen departs and focuses his energy on professional
athletes, he leaves former assistant coach and throwing specialist
Art Venegas to follow in a long list of coaching legends, including
Jim Bush, Ducky Drake and Larsen.

Joining Venegas are fast-rising pole vault coach Anthony Curran
and John Smith, one of the top sprinting coaches in the world.

“They’ve risen to an international level,”
Larsen said. “One of my great prides is seeing our coaches
become international stars.”

For Larsen, only time will keep him from international fame as a
coach of some of the best athletes in the world. But as he leaves
Westwood, Larsen is already known as one of the greatest coaches
ever to come out of UCLA track and field.