| Larry Kehres' Mount Union
teams won 11 national titles. He was 332-24-3, which means he has
fewer losses than seasons coached. Photo by Dan Poel, d3photography.com |
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Larry Kehres, year by year |
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Mount Union's Larry Kehres has decided to step down as head football coach effective immediately. He will remain the director of athletics, while Vince Kehres has been named head football coach effective immediately.
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Larry Kehres, in his 39th year working at his alma mater, began
working as an assistant football coach and professor in 1974. He
was Mount Union's first head swimming coach, was named athletic
director in 1985 then assumed head football coaching duties in
1986.
"The best part of the job was developing relationships with
players and continuing those relationships following their
graduations," Kehres said. "Coaching the Purple Raiders has been a
tremendous experience for my family. We have shared many great
experiences with our players, fellow coaches, trainers and their
families. We plan to continue to enjoy working with Mount Union
coaches and athletes."
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In 27 seasons, his teams won 23 Ohio Athletic Conference
championships (1986, 1990, 1992-2012) while posting 21 undefeated
regular seasons (1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995-2004, 2006-2012) and
claiming 11 NCAA Division III national championships (1993, 1996,
1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012).
A 1971 Mount Union graduate, Kehres has a career coaching record
of 332-24-3 (.929) which makes him one of the winningest coaches in
the history of college football.
"I have a lot of respect for him," former St. John's coach John Gagliardi told the St. Cloud Times. Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history with 489 victories, retired earlier in the offseason.
"He was a great guy and a great coach. That program wasn't on the map until he got hold of them.
"If he'd have kept up that pace he's been on for so long -- winning 14 games a year -- he probably would have caught me."
As director of athletics, Kehres has overseen and aided in the
expansion of varsity sports at Mount Union -- currently at 23 --
increased the athletics staff and has led an aggressive plan to
enhance and create some of NCAA Division III top facilities
highlighted by the $17 million expansion and renovation of the
Timken Physical Education Building and Peterson Field House.
"My plan is to continue to assist coaches and student-athletes to
experience success at Mount Union," stated Kehres.
He and his wife, Linda, have three grown children and five
grandchildren.
"Coach Kehres has been an incredible success, not only in winning
football games and national championships at an unprecedented
level, but also in positively shaping the lives of countless
student athletes. His impact on Mount Union has been dramatic, and
the entire Raider family will clearly miss him on the sideline.
Larry, his wife Linda, and the Kehres family are a special part of
the fabric that makes Mount Union unique, and we are indeed
grateful. We are pleased that Larry will still be leading our
entire, highly successful athletic program as director of
athletics, and we are appreciative for both what he has done and
what he will continue to do for Mount Union," stated university
president Richard Giese.
| Vince Kehres has been an
assistant at Mount Union for 13 seasons, including the past eight
as defensive coordinator. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
Vince Kehres has spent the last 13 years on the Mount Union
football coaching staff and the last eight of those years as
defensive coordinator.
As defensive coordinator, his unit has constantly ranked
statistically among the top of all of NCAA Division III and in 2012
they were No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in scoring defense and No.
1 in rushing defense while posting six consecutive shutouts.
The 1998 Mount Union graduate and Alliance native has been part of
10 of the Purple Raiders national championships as either a player
(2) or a coach (8).
"Obviously Mount Union football has been a part of my entire
life," stated Vince. "I have a passion for coaching and
working with young men and I can think of no better place to do
that then at Mount Union. I promise this program will continue to
uphold the values and ideals that have made Mount Union what it is
in the world of college football," said Vince Kehres. "Our mission
remains the same -- bring quality young men to this place and allow
them the opportunity to grow and be successful on and off the
field."
According to Giese, "Vince Kehres has been instrumental in many
successes of the program; and we are proud and fortunate to have
him take our program forward. He is well-prepared and ready
for this opportunity."
During his playing career at Mount Union, Kehres totaled 62 hits
and 12 tackles for loss, and he was a key member of the special
teams unit. He was part of a 1997 defense that led all of Division
III in fewest points allowed (5.6 ppg) and rushing defense (48.6
ypg) while posting five shutouts and setting a Raider single-season
mark for sacks in a season (53 in 10 regular season games).
He has a master's degree from Ashland and he and his wife,
Lindsay, have two sons, Evan and Bo.
The university is in the process of planning appropriate
recognition of Larry Kehres and the program.
Kehres' retirement means Rick Giancola of Montclair State is the active D-III coaching wins leader, with 214.