Larry Kehres
Encyclopedia
Larry Kehres is an American football
coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Mount Union, formerly known as Mount Union College, in Alliance, Ohio
, a position he has held since the 1986 season. To date, Kehres has a record of 315–23–3 at Mount Union, giving him a winning percentage of , the highest in college football
history.
. He attended Portage County
's Southeast High School before attending Mount Union College from 1967 to 1970. At Mount Union, he played quarterback for the football team. In 1970, he set the school record with a 95-yard touchdown pass against Ohio Northern.
, while studying for a master's degree in health and physical education. In 1973, he was the head football coach at Johnstown-Monroe High School
.
Kehres also started and served as the coach of Mount Union's swim program from 1974 to 1986.
s (1993, 1996–1998, 2000–2002, 2005–2006, 2008).
Kehres' teams hold several NCAA
records. In addition to owning the two longest winning streaks in NCAA history, 54 wins in 1996–1999 and 55 wins in 2000–2003, the Mount Union Purple Raiders have won a conference title 22 of the last 26 years. During his tenure, Kehres has only lost eight games and tied three times in conference play. From 1994 to 2005, his squads won 100 consecutive games against Ohio Athletic Conference
opponents.
Kehres is 3–1 against college football's all-time winningest coach, John Gagliardi
, having beaten Gagliardi's St. John's
squads twice in playoff match-ups and trading wins in the national title game in 2000 and 2003.
In 2009, Kehres was named first vice president of the American Football Coaches Association
(AFCA). He was elected President of the AFCA in January 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Mount Union, formerly known as Mount Union College, in Alliance, Ohio
Alliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
, a position he has held since the 1986 season. To date, Kehres has a record of 315–23–3 at Mount Union, giving him a winning percentage of , the highest in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
history.
Early years
Kehres is a native of Diamond, OhioDiamond, Ohio
Diamond is an unincorporated community in eastern Palmyra Township, Portage County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44412. The community is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area. Interstate 76 travels near Diamond.-Notable...
. He attended Portage County
Portage County, Ohio
Portage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 152,061 at the 2000 Census and 161,419 at the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Ravenna. Portage County is named for the portage between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers...
's Southeast High School before attending Mount Union College from 1967 to 1970. At Mount Union, he played quarterback for the football team. In 1970, he set the school record with a 95-yard touchdown pass against Ohio Northern.
Bowling Green and Johnstown-Monroe
From 1971 to 1972, Kehres was a graduate assistant at Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
, while studying for a master's degree in health and physical education. In 1973, he was the head football coach at Johnstown-Monroe High School
Johnstown-Monroe High School
Johnstown-Monroe High School is a public high school in Johnstown, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Johnstown-Monroe Local School District. It was erected in 1963 and currently houses grades 9-12. It contains a cafeteria, gymnasium, performing arts center,and music room. The current...
.
Assistant coach at Mount Union
In 1974, Kehres returned to Mount Union College as an assistant football coach under head coach Ken Wable. Kehres was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for 11 years under Wable. Wable had a .564 winning percentage in 24 years as the head coach at Mount Union.Kehres also started and served as the coach of Mount Union's swim program from 1974 to 1986.
Head coach at Mount Union
In 1985, Kehres became the athletic director at Mount Union, and in 1986 he took over as head football coach. His teams have won 10 NCAA Division III National Football ChampionshipNCAA Division III national football championship
The NCAA Division III National Football Championship began in 1973. Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the NCAA's former "College Division"....
s (1993, 1996–1998, 2000–2002, 2005–2006, 2008).
Kehres' teams hold several NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
records. In addition to owning the two longest winning streaks in NCAA history, 54 wins in 1996–1999 and 55 wins in 2000–2003, the Mount Union Purple Raiders have won a conference title 22 of the last 26 years. During his tenure, Kehres has only lost eight games and tied three times in conference play. From 1994 to 2005, his squads won 100 consecutive games against Ohio Athletic Conference
Ohio Athletic Conference
The Ohio Athletic Conference was formed in 1902 and is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States. It competes in the NCAA's Division III. Through the years, 31 schools have been members of the OAC. The enrollments of the current ten member institutions range from 1,100 to 4,500...
opponents.
Kehres is 3–1 against college football's all-time winningest coach, John Gagliardi
John Gagliardi
John Gagliardi is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, a position he has held since 1953. From 1949 to 1952, he was the head football coach at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. With a career record of...
, having beaten Gagliardi's St. John's
Saint John's Johnnies football
The Saint John's Johnnies football program represents Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. They compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference....
squads twice in playoff match-ups and trading wins in the national title game in 2000 and 2003.
In 2009, Kehres was named first vice president of the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
(AFCA). He was elected President of the AFCA in January 2010.