Bob Larsen

About

Bob Larsen is a renowned track and field coach, celebrated for his contributions to American distance running. Born on January 23, 1939, Larsen graduated from San Diego State College in 1961 and began his coaching career at Grossmont College, where he led his teams to numerous state and conference titles. He also founded the Jamul Toads, which won the AAU National Cross Country Championship in 1976. Larsen's most notable achievements came during his tenure at UCLA, where he coached from 1979 to 1999. He led the Bruins to two NCAA Outdoor Championships and was named NCAA Coach of the Year four times. Larsen is also famous for coaching Mebrahtom Keflezighi, who won the Olympic silver medal in 2004 and later the New York and Boston Marathons. However, the provided information does not mention Larsen coaching Steve Prefontaine or Bill Rodgers. Larsen's innovative approach, including altitude training, has significantly impacted American distance running.