After 61 years, football coach Larry Garman is retiring.
Garman, who spent 37 years at Pittsburg High School and the last 24 years at Pittsburg State, announced Wednesday is is retiring.
"I have really enjoyed my time at Pittsburg State," the 84-year-old Garman said in a release. "I have been around some very good football players and some very good football coaches. I have learned a lot from coach (Chuck) Broyles, coach (Tim) Beck and coach (Brian) Wright. It has been a tremendous experience."
After serving as an assistant coach at Pittsburg High School from 1962-64, Garman was head coach for PHS for 34 seasons, molding the Purple Dragons into the model Class 5A program in the state.
He led Pittsburg High to a 255-84-5 record from 1965-98, three Class 5A state championships ('83, '88, '90), 21 playoff appearances and 31 winning seasons.
Garman didn't stay retired long, however, as he joined Broyles' staff at Pittsburg State on June 1, 1999, just weeks after wrapping up the academic year at PHS.
Garman worked with the Gorillas' tight ends for 12 seasons before serving as the staff's in-season, off-campus recruiter, extensively recruiting regional high schools and junior colleges, for nine years.
He served the past three seasons under Wright as a local high school/junior college recruiter, while also focusing on campus and community outreach as well as alumni relations for the staff.
"It has truly been one of my greatest honors in all of coaching to work alongside such a legendary coach and man in Larry Garman," Wright said. "I don't know that words can express what he has meant to me and the rest of the staff throughout our time together here at Pitt.
"LG just makes you want to be a better man every minute you are around him, and that is hard to come by. I know that we will continue to have breakfasts together, we will see him at practices and games, but he will be truly missed. I'm not sure I'll ever meet any one that has meant more to the people of one place than the 'Legend'. Thank you to Karen and his entire family for sharing him with all of us."
Garman was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame for meritorious achievement in 2012. Garman received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Pittsburg State University in 1972.
A Seneca, Mo., native, Garman earned a bachelor's of science degree in education from PSU in 1962 and a master's degree in school administration from PSU in 1965.
Larry and his wife, Karen, live in Pittsburg.
