Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Profile: Bill Larson

#7 posting 11.25.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

PROFILE: Bill Larson

Today the profile spotlight looks at Bill Larson head coach at Tartan High School and also head of the North Tartan AAU program. Larson coached at Sebeka and Pequot Lakes prior to the Tartan job. In 1999 and 2000 PL made it to the AA State Tournament. North Tartan is perennially one of the teams to watch in the summer.

your birthday 4/14/71

schooling: Concordia, Moorhead BA, Bemidji State MA, St. Cloud State 6th year Director of Special Ed, Principal and Superintendent licensure

mentor coaches Rich Perine (Sebeka), Rick Szebluski (Pierz), Brian Cosgriff (Hopkins)

basketball coaching jobs 15 years Varsity head, Director of North Tartan AAU club

Favorite basketball movie Hoosiers

Favorite basketball instructional video/tape Dick Bennett Systems: “Pack the Line” Pressure D

Favorite book Joe Torre “12 guidelines”

Favorite high school gymnasium Chisholm High School

favorite team growing up Syracuse (Sherman Douglas, Ronnie Siekley, Derrick Coleman)

Meal before a game Only time I eat before a game is at Henry Sibley: taco in a bag

starting five from your high school career
Flecia Foster, Pequot Lakes
Brianna Biebihauser, Pequot Lakes
Cassie Evenson, Pequot Lakes
Lisa Crabb, Sebeka
Nikki Klingsporn, Tartan

opponents starting five from your high school career
Anna Bjorkland, Sibley East
Angel Robinson, St. Paul Central
Carolyn Moos, Blake
Melissa Miller, Breck
(any) Noreen, Albany

starting five from your AAU career
(this will get me in trouble…)
Alyssa Karel, Cretin-Derham Hall
Janessa Wolff, Park Rapids
Tara Steinbauer, Bloomington Kennedy
Jackie Voigt, Park-Cottage Grove
Hannah Skildum, Mounds View
Amy Beggin, Roseville
(that is six, it has been a blessing to coach all the great kids that have played for North Tartan)

opponents starting five from your AAU career
Courtney Paris,
Marissa Coleman,
Allison Hightower,
Tierra Ruffen-Pratt,
Maya Moore,
Brittany Griener
(that is six too)

favorite opponent Woodbury

coach you would like to avoid playing Andy Berkvam, Lakeville North

trend you like in high school basketball every time I hear about going to a bracket of 64 for play-offs

trend that needs fixing in basketball take pride in teaching fundamentals and skill development

most memorable game you coached. Win over Roseau to go to State

most painful loss Overtime loss to Crosby-Ironton in section championship, Brainerd HS

If you could go to a college to assist which one University of Minnesota or Iowa State

favorite athlete in another sport Mike Mussina (just retired)

favorite coach Mike Krzyzewski

biggest change in basketball since you started coaching chat rooms and blog spots

Favorite value in others Dependability

Thanks coach Larson

Next up: Later tonight with an out & about----again from Wisconsin.