Helping hand: Allen was always willing to assist players and coaches during his career at Hamilton High School.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
HAMILTON — Larry Allen's 11-year run as Hamilton High School boys basketball coach, which came to an end last week when he announced his retirement, probably will be best remembered for the Division I state championship Big Blue won in 2004.
But many people may not realize that was not the only state championship that Allen had a hand in as a coach.
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"My first contact with Larry came in the year we won state," said Lakota West coach Mike Mueller, who led the old Lakota High to the 1992 state title.
"He was an assistant coach for John Smith, and he just called me up out of the blue and asked, 'Hey, Coach, would you like me to go scout for you?' " Mueller continued. "That really meant a lot to me, for an assistant coach at a league rival to make that offer."
Mueller accepted the offer, and Allen drove to Columbus to scout the Lancaster Gales.
"I remember his report being dead on," Mueller said. "And it was a big reason we won that game."
That story marked the beginning of a trend in Allen's coaching career, where he put others first. And it served him — and the program — well for 19 years.
That's why his departure will have such a big impact on the Big Blue program.
Sure, Hamilton will hire a new coach — no internal candidates had applied as of Thursday, April 17, Athletic Director Mike Dellapina said — and sure, the new guy probably will be successful.
So in that regard, not much will change.
But at the same time, Hamilton High will never be the same.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193
or jmorrison@coxohio.com.
