NEW ATHLETICS
DIRECTOR/MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH NAMED AT IOWA LAKES
|
A new head basketball coach and athletics director
has been named at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Troy Larson was selected to lead the college in
athletics and men’s basketball effective
immediately. In addition to serving as the head
basketball coach and athletics director, he will
serve as housing director.
Larson’s name will sound familiar to many area
sports enthusiasts. He worked at Iowa Lakes as an
assistant basketball coach during the 1997-98
season. He also was an Iowa Lakes student-athlete
who played on the 1992 team which eventually became
the runners up at the national Division II NJCAA
tourney. He was also a captain of the team, an
Academic All American and an Athletic All American
at the NJCAA level. |
Troy Larson |
After leaving Iowa Lakes as a student, Larson transferred to
Morningside College where he continued to play basketball and
was an ‘Elite Eight’ participant; captain; Academic All North
Central Region; and, was on the North Central Region All
Tournament Team. He received his bachelor’s degree from
Morningside in 1995. Upon graduation he worked at Deloitte and
Touche’ for two years as a staff accountant, before coming to
Iowa Lakes to serve as the assistant coach.
A basketball position came open at Morningside and Larson moved
to his other alma mater where he worked under Jerry Schmutte for
three seasons, ending with the position of associate head
coach. In 2001, he advanced to South Dakota State University to
coach in Division I ball.
“One of the areas I recruited in was the Minnesota area as well
as the state of Iowa, where I’m from,” said Larson.
He’s glad to be returning to his home territory.
“It was such a great experience for my wife and me at Iowa
Lakes, we know what the makeup of this place is and how great
the people are and how solid the institution is and we’re very
excited about being a part of that again,” Larson said.
He also likes where Iowa Lakes is headed.
“I’m also very excited about the direction of Iowa Lakes –
specifically the committee members, Dr. Prior, Julie Carlson,
Val Newhouse, Darin Moeller, Bob L’Heureux and Roger Guge. They
know where they want this program to go and that they’re very
student oriented and they desire to have Iowa Lakes be the best
that it can be. That is very important to me to be associated
with an institution and an administration that has those
passions.”
Carlson, the Dean of Enrollment Management, said Larson is a
good fit for Iowa Lakes.
“He will be a leader who will embody the traits of the
student-athlete whom we wish to recruit for Iowa Lakes,” Carlson
said. “One of his major philosophies revolves around developing
young college players academically, athletically and socially.”
“As a former player and with all his experience as a coach, I
know people will be pleased with our choice,” she added.
She also expects that he’ll be an active member of the community
and will be seen throughout the five-county Iowa Lakes area.
A native of Mallard, Larson will settle in the area with his
wife, Angela, and three children, Taylor, William and Owen.
Larson replaces Jason Vande Brake who accepted a position with
an investment firm in LeMars.
