Beneath a SoCal winter’s day that would be the envy of any burg in the world – long-tailed clouds streaking the bright blue skies, gentle ocean breezes, and temperatures hovering around 70°F – revelers gathered at Bob Larsen’s hillside home high in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood overlooking Santa Monica Bay and hazy Catalina Island for the celebrated coach’s 85th birthday party yesterday (27 Jan. 2024).

With neighbors like LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Jim Carrey, Bob is used to seeing famous world-class talent. But the crowd assembled at his and partner Martha Watson’s Brentwood home truly glittered as they shared memories, laughs, and even a few tears.

On hand were six (no, 7) Olympic gold medalists, two more world champions, NCAA champions, and world record holders galore.

Also among the celebrants were various members of all the teams Coach Larsen groomed during his 60 years in the coaching game, beginning with the Monte Vista High School Monarchs in Spring Valley, California.

It was at Monte Vista in 1963 where the young coach two years out of San Diego State University took a new school program to four straight CIF cross country titles while going undefeated on the track in his last three years.

Next, he helmed the Grossmont College Griffins, who won seven California state community college state titles and nine consecutive conference crowns.

Concurrent with his time at Grossmont, Coach Larsen helped form a ragtag group of post-collegiate distance runners from the San Diego area and molded them into the 1976 AAU National Cross Country champions.

At Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Jamul Toads bested the more celebrated teams from the Colorado Track Club, New York AC, Greater Boston Track Club, and the Florida Track Club. 

Led by individual runner-up Terry Cotton, who finished three seconds behind national champion Ric Rojas of the vaulted Colorado Track Club, and ably assisted by Kirk Pfeffer in fourth, Ed Mendoza in ninth, Dave Harper in 15th and Tom Lux in 23rd, the Toads announced themselves as the best harrier team in the nation.  Are we beginning to see a pattern?

That same year, UCLA head coach, Jim Bush, called trying to recruit Bob to join his Bruins staff in Los Angeles. But at the time, Bob deferred. Three years later, Bush called again, and this time, with the vision of Coach Bush’s imminent retirement in mind, Coach Larsen said, “maybe I should take this opportunity.”

So Bob moved up to Westwood to handle the throwers and distance runners for the Bruins while another coaching legend, Bobby Kersee, mentored the high-powered women’s program. Talk about a world class staff! 

Bob would stay on at UCLA for 21 years the last 15 as head coach after replacing Bush in 1984. During his tenure, Bob led 12 individuals to a total of 20 NCAA titles while earning numerous individual awards and citations, including four Coach of the Year honors, the first in 1980. His teams won back to back NCAA titles in 1987 and 1988, marking one of the greatest teams in collegiate history, including the first collegiate 4 x 400m team to crack 3:00 (2:59.91).

Three members of that squad were on hand, Steve Lewis, Kevin Young, and Danny Everett, who doubled as caterer to the affair with a sumptuous spread of barbecue food.

There must’ve been 80, or more, ex-Bruins on hand to pay respects and express their love for their former coach.

As mentioned, I counted seven Olympic gold medalists, numerous world champions, and world record holders, all on hand to tell their tall tales while taking good-natured shots at one another.

A group of ex-Larsen coached Grossmont College runners and friends rode up from San Diego in a party bus to ensure their good time would not be compromised.

 Unfortunately, Bob’s greatest distance runner, Meb Keflezighi, four-time NCAA champion, 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist, then 2009 New York City and 2014 Boston Marathon winner while running for the Mammoth TC, was unable to fly in from his home in Tampa, Florida, due to a family illness. 

Throughout his career, Bob Larsen embodied the qualities that mark the greatest coaches in any sport: detailed preparation, unflinching encouragement, discipline, humor,  humility and innovation. Bob leaned heavily on threshold training long before it became fashionable.

Coach teared up several times while recalling his various teams and individuals over the PA system set up along the edge of the canyon-side home he’s owned since 1984. He also needled as much as he praised, drawing laughter from the hundred plus person crowd arrayed along the wooden deck, overlooking the majestic canyon spreading down to Santa Monica and the bright blue Pacific Ocean. 

Bob’s sprint assistant coach at UCLA, John Smith, spoke with an emotion shared by many as he expressed his feelings for his former boss. 

“When Bob called (with the job offer), it changed my life,” Smith said, his voice breaking. “Bob, I owe you my life.“ 

New Los Angeles Chargers coach, Jim Harbaugh‘s dad, Jack, famously passed on his football coaching gene to his two sons, John and Jim. He also passed down a phrase that he and his Ohio boyhood friends used to express their carefree mid-American life. “Who’s got it better than us!? Nobody!“

That expression still rings true for the Harbaughs, given John’s Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XLVII win over brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in February 2013, and this past season’s NCAA D1 football title won by Jim at the University of Michigan before taking the Chargers’ job. 

Still, I don’t think the Harbaugh boys have much on Coach Larsen, not based yesterday’s expansive expression of love and support by so many great athletes for their Hall of Fame coach. 

“You’re here because of your teammates,” said Bob, once again deflecting the spotlight from himself. “And seeing you all interacting makes this so special.”

Best birthday wishes, Bob. Just so you know, we in the media think you’re pretty great, too, and appreciate all you’ve done helping us do our jobs. Onward!

THE STARS CAME OUT

• Steve Lewis 3 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver;
• Kevin Young Olympic gold medal, 1 World Championship gold medal, former world record 400 meters hurdles;
• Danny Everett Olympic gold and bronze medals; (also supplied the BBQ feast!)
• Mike Marsh 2 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver, 1 World Championship gold medal;
• Mike Powell 2 Olympic silver medals, 2 World Championship gold medals, world record in the long jump since 1991;
• Andre Phillips 1988 Olympic 400m hurdles gold medal. 1981 NCAA 400H champion;
• Willie Banks Former Triple Jump world record holder;
• John Godina Three time NCAA champion, two in discus, one in shot put. Also, four-time world champion & 1996 Olympic silver, 2000 bronze in Shot put.

Thanks to photog extraordinaire Bill Leung for contributing so many special photos. A big thank you, as well, to UCLA grad Mike Parkinson for arranging the whole shebang.