Legendary Armstrong Coach Gets Inducted Into Hall of Fame

When you think Armstrong boy’s basketball, you think Larry Weum.

Coach Weum was roaming the sidelines for the Falcons for a combined 27 years. He spent 10 of those years as an assistant and finishing the last 17 years as the head coach.

It didn’t take long for Weum to make his mark once becoming the head coach. In only his second year on the job, he took the Falcons to second place finish in the state tournament.

In his 17 years as the head coach of the Falcons, Weum finished with a 48 percent winning percentage (302-145). So, it came with little shock that such a great coach, and man, was nominated for the Minnesota Basketball Coach Association Hall of Fame.

Weum loved the game and knew that it wasn’t just him alone that earned him this prestige’s nomination.

“I have to give most of the credit to my players for all the dedication and hard work they put into the program at Armstrong,” Weum said. “I was a teacher first. I went into teaching to try and make a difference with kids.”

But coaching is teaching also, he said.

"I have never entertained anything else,” Weum said.

According to Weum, basketball "consumed” his life, but that wasn’t a bad thing. He does admit to not missing the time commitment, but the kids and coaches, that’s another story.

“After 30 some years, the time commitment was getting old, but the relationships I built, I still miss today.”

One of those relationships he speaks of was with the man whom nominated him, Brian Cosgriff.

“I was lucky to hire him as an assistant coach,” Weum said of Brian. “He is currently the head girls coach at Hopkins High School. I feel that he is one of the best coaches at any level in Minnesota.”

Weum is overwhelmingly honored that one of his peers would take the time to nominate him.

“Brian called me and told me he was going to put my name up for nomination a few years ago,” Weum said. “He told me that there were some other head coaches that were going to send in letters as well. I feel very honored to be included into the Hall of Fame.”

After a very successful career, Weum retired in 2003. However, he still finds time to catch a game or two.

“Since retiring, I have been spending most of my time at my lake cabin,” Weum said. “And going to basketball games.”

It’s fitting that Weum would be nominated and going into the MBCA as a former Falcon. After 34 years in the coaching business, there are sure to be many fond memories, but Weum has one that tops the list.

“There are so many memories,” he said. “Helping Armstrong’s basketball team make their first state tournament in 1988 is right up there.”

You can join Weum, along with fellow inductees Howard Bahn of Kimball, Dan Brink of St. Paul Central/St. Paul Como Park, Perry Doney of Hector/Wood Lake/Canby and Don Tangen of Glencoe-Silver Lake at the induction ceremonies at noon Sunday, Oct. 30, in the banquet hall at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis.