School names field after former Coach!

The Athens City Board of Education honored former coach and athletic director Dr. Larry McCoy by naming the Athens High School football field “Larry McCoy Field”. The naming ceremony took take place at the Athens High Stadium on Friday, October 24th at 6:45 before the Athens-Russellville football game. A pre-game reception and rib dinner was in front of the stadium starting at 5:00 for all friends and former players that wish to stop in and congratulate Coach McCoy.

In the early 1970’s, McCoy spearheaded the drive to build a new Athens High School football stadium. In the spring of 1975, before the 1975 State Championship season, Coach McCoy was joined by Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant to dedicate that stadium. It was considered one of the finest athletic facilities of its day. 

Dr. McCoy’s accomplishments in sports began as an All-State guard and linebacker in football for Tuscaloosa High School, where he also played baseball. He was team captain his senior year. He earned a scholarship to the University of Alabama and played for Coach J.B. “Ears” Whitworth and for Coach Paul Bryant until a knee injury ended his playing career. Coach Bryant helped him find a job and encouraged him to remain close to the team. Watching Coach Bryant’s staff in practices was what motivated him to go into coaching.  In 1961 he took a job at Tuscaloosa High School as an assistant football coach. In 1962 he moved to Dothan High School and served as assistant football coach and head track coach. In 1963 he moved up to Athens High School where he coached football and basketball under head Coach Ferman Elmore and was the head track coach. In 1966 he was named Head Football coach and Athletic Director.

In his 10 years as Head Coach of the Athens Golden Eagles, McCoy had only one losing season, and that was his first. He surpassed coach Elmore’s record of 68 wins by compiling a 70-32-3 record in football to become, at that time, the winningest coach in school history and led his 1975 team to a Class 3A state championship.  In 1972 McCoy coached Athens to their first undefeated regular season. That same year, he was selected to coach the Alabama All-Star Football Game. His teams won Tennessee Valley Championships from 1972 through 1975. He was selected as Alabama AAA State Coach of the year in 1975. Additionally, his track and field teams won three state titles. As Athletic Director, McCoy started girls’ sports programs long before Title 9 was in existence. Following the 1975 season, McCoy coached one additional year at Huntsville High School. He has served as President of the Alabama High School Coaches Association and on the District Board of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

After his coaching days were over, Dr. McCoy began another career in higher education serving at Athens State College, Muscle Shoals Technical College, Shoals Community College and finished his career as President Emeritus of Northwest-Shoals Community College. Along the way, he helped begin the junior college’s athletic program. He also was instrumental in starting the annual Alabama/Mississippi basketball all-star games in Florence. His publications include “Off-Season Programs” in Coach and the Athlete  and  “Punt Return Pays Dividends” and “Coaching Drills” in Coaching Clinic .

During his career, Coach McCoy coached 9 All-American football players and 17 All-State football players. He has been inducted in to the Tuscaloosa High School Sports Hall of Fame, Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame, and in 1999 Dr. McCoy was elected to the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

View all photos from the event here.