On Oct. 25, longtime Lakeville football coach Larry Thompson won his 250th career game in a playoff matchup with Eagan. Thompson, a three-time state championship winner, almost single-handedly turned a once small farming community into what he calls today a “big and crazy football town” that boasts for two of the most consistent football programs in the state of Minnesota; both programs that he built.

As those who played for him, coached with him, rooted for him, and wrote about him will attest, Thompson’s effect on the community has done more than rack up his schools’ wins column. As Thompson or “Coach T” as his players know him, reminds his teams every season, “the winning will take care of itself;” it’s everything in between the wins and losses that Thompson cares about most deeply.

All those quoted are introduced with their graduation year from Lakeville, their football position, past and current job titles, or all the above.

‘WHY THE HELL DIDN’T YOU SCORE SIX?’

Gordon Thompson, brother – Class of ’64: It was easy to see right away that Larry was an all-around incredible athlete. I loved sports too, but I wasn’t damn near as good at them as he was. We made an agreement that I would take on double the amount of work on the farm so he could make it to all of his games and practices growing up. I didn’t mind it; I loved watching Larry play.

Vicky Thompson, wife – Class of ’70: One of Larry’s favorite stories he tells is about the first football game that his dad went to when he was in high school. His dad didn’t really know much about football and after Larry scored five touchdowns as a sophomore on the varsity team that day, his dad asked him, completely seriously: “Why the hell didn’t you score six?”

Jim Knutson, Lakeville High School head football coach: 1976-1978, defensive assistant coach 1979-2004; Lakeville South defensive assistant coach 2005- present: Larry came back home from a great football career at Augsburg; he was an All-American with all other kinds of awards. He started teaching math at the middle school in 1977 and helped me out coaching a little bit while I was the head coach. It didn’t take long before I realized that this guy was meant to coach. I didn’t love being the guy in charge and it was a bit of a strain on my family. I asked him in 1978 if he would be willing to take over [as head coach]; it was different back then, it wasn’t a big deal at all.

Dave Comer, Lakeville High School offensive line coach: 1976-2004; Lakeville South offensive line coach: 2005-2012: It wasn’t obvious right away. Larry, like the rest of us, was a rookie in the coaching world. He was so charismatic; eventually the coaching ability caught up with that charisma and it didn’t take long before he was one of the best coaches in the state in my mind.

Jim Knutson: He obviously loves the game but he loves the kids who play it; that’s kind of what sets him apart for me. His mission from the beginning was to make Lakeville Football a big deal; he wanted the players to be treated like leaders of the school.

THE BIRTH OF TRADITION

Dick Johnson, Lakeville High School offensive assistant coach: 1979-2004; Lakeville South offensive assistant coach: 2005-2012: The first few years were really tough because we were all getting to know each other as people. We won a little bit, but we knew there was a long road ahead. When “Z” came, that’s what got us over the hump as a program and as a coaching staff.

Brian Vossen, Class of ’98 – defensive end/tight end; Lakeville High School defensive line coach: 2003-2004; Lakeville North defensive coordinator: 2005-

2010; Lakeville North head coach: 2011-present: Dick Zeman is one of the best football coaches you’ll find anywhere; he should have really been a head coach and his program would have been a powerhouse. He chose to stay with Larry; he deserves as much credit as anyone for what Lakeville football has become.

Dick Zeman, Lakeville High School defensive coordinator: 1983-2003; Lakeville South defensive line coach 2005-2012: I came to Lakeville to be a math teacher, not necessarily a football coach. Larry’s classroom was just down the hall from mine; we became friends fast. I had coached a little bit before and it turned out we shared a lot of the same beliefs and philosophies. There was no way I wasn’t going to coach for the guy.

Dave Comer: “Z” is the only guy I know that has the enthusiasm and love for the game that can match Larry. With him coaching the defense and Larry calling the plays on offense, we started rocking and rolling. We were in the state tournament every year it seemed like. Our population was still small back then; we just had a bunch of big farm boys who liked to hit.

A RUN OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Jim Knutson: Our first state championship game was in 1987 against Cambridge. We led most of the game and gave up a late touchdown that got them within three points.  On the kickoff, they got us with little pooch kick and recovered it and went down and scored. We lost the game. I was the special teams guy; I was devastated.

Dick Zeman: I remember how angry I was after that game [in ’87]; I couldn’t believe it. After the game, Larry came to us with that huge smile on his face and said, “Guys, we’re fine. We’ll be back. That was a hell of a fun game.” I don’t know why but I never viewed big games the same way again. Sure enough, we won the title the next year.

Brian Vossen: “Z” had a nickname for all of us linemen; he called me “Vampire.” Before a big game my senior year, I think it was Eden Prairie, he was giving his pregame speech and said “Vampire, I want you to take your guy and drive him all the way to the concession stand! And when you get there, I need a hot dog; ketchup, no mustard!” Before I ran onto the field for the first play, he grabbed me by my facemask and reminded me of his pregame orders.

Mike Zweber, Class of ’89 – offensive tackle; Lakeville High School assistant coach: 1997-2004; Lakeville North head coach: 2005-2010: After the loss in ’87, when “T” said we’d be back in the championship game, we believed him. You never questioned what he said. How could you?  He was Panther Football. We wanted so badly to prove him right with his high expectations. He was like a father figure to me in a lot of ways; I don’t think I l have ever looked up to anyone more than him, especially at the time.

Vicky Thompson: Larry’s confidence has always been high. He rarely ever tells me he’s nervous before a game, he’s always “excited.” I know he put a lot pressure on himself when he was young. Once his assisants became his best friends, they completely trusted each other. I don’t think he’s ever felt pressure since then; he definitely wouldn’t let it show if he has.

‘PANTHER FOOTBALL IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS’

Dick Johnson: The five of us were dedicated and took a lot of time away from our families, for better and for worse. Larry was great at making sure we put family before football as much as we could, but to build a program like we did, we needed to make a lot of sacrifices.

Brian Vossen: One of the first Saturday morning coaches meetings I ever went to was during the 2003 championship season. We were getting ready for a game against Chaska and we put the film up and watched a few plays of their offense. After about two minutes, Larry said: “Why the hell aren’t we with our families right now? We will win this game by seven touchdowns.” So we packed up and went home. I was worried; they are normally a pretty good team. He was wrong though; we beat Chaska 56-0 that week.

Bob Kovich, Lakeville High School quarterbacks coach 1990-2004; Lakeville North offensive coordinator 2005-present: I joined the staff as the young, new guy who didn’t have any Lakeville ties. They took me in almost instantly and I felt like a Panther right away. What struck me were the relationships. These guys cared for each other and for the players. That’s something I’ve tried really hard to take with me as a coach and teacher. We use all of these different words to sum up Panther football; Panther football has always been about relationships and I hope that’s still the case; I think it is.

Dick Johnson: Bobby came on in the early 90s and it changed our whole dynamic. We had to have been the only team in our conference at that time that really practiced the passing game and practiced it well. We still were a running team, but our passing game became a huge weapon for us.

Brian Vossen: Larry always has been ahead of the curve with his offense. He has a pretty good understanding of what will work and what not to bother with – he doesn’t try something just for the sake of trying it. When he brought Bob in to coach the quarterbacks, I’m guessing it wasn’t just luck that he found one of the best assistant coaches in the state.

Dave Comer: We had a big offensive line in ’91 and we made it back to the state championship against Burnsville.  It was a heartbreaker. Our star back fumbled what would have been the winning touchdown and they returned it for a touchdown. We drove down the field again and came up short…Wow; it was an incredible game when I think back on it.

Jason Albrecht, Class of ’93 – offensive guard: Lakeville North offensive line coach 2011-present: After Matt [Hammond] fumbled and we lost the lead, we had a last-minute drive going to tie it. Larry called timeout and came out to the huddle to talk to us. With a straight face, he told us we were going to run a toss-pass, something we had never practiced or even talked about. Mike Doughty, the guy next to me who went on to start four years at Notre Dame, asked him: “T, what the f–k are you talking about?” Larry couldn’t stop laughing. We weren’t going to run the toss- pass.

Dick Zeman: After the Burnsville loss in ’91, I went up to Larry with a big smile on my face and told him: “Don’t worry, we will be back. That was one hell of a game.” He called me an ass for stealing his line.

Bob Kovich: We returned to the state championship the next year in ’92.  Boy, we were really good that year. I remember Cretin-Derham Hall came to Lakeville for a non-conference game when they had NFL guys – Matt Birk and Chris Weinke. We really took it to ‘em. We got to play them again in the title game and beat them.

Dick Johnson: That was a very unique year for us. My son, Jay, and Larry’s son, Danny, were starting that season. Jay was the quarterback and Danny was the center. Larry told me many times that he was nervous Danny wouldn’t be good enough to play. I think it’s pretty common for high school coaches to feel that way with their own kids playing.

Jason Albrecht: Danny Thompson was a straight-up ass-kicker.

WHEN A COACH BECOMES A GOD

Brian Vossen: I met Larry in seventh grade. I was new to Lakeville and he basically forced me to tell him I’d come out for football; there was no way in hell I wasn’t going to play football, but something about him made me feel like I’d be stupid not too.  He’s like an icon in Lakeville. He was and still is a master motivator, even when talking to a chubby seventh grader.

Mitch Leidner, Lakeville South Class of ’12 – quarterback/current quarterback for University of Minnesota Golden Gophers: I think everyone that’s ever played for him knows about his eyes. When he gives his pregame speeches, his eyes become the most intense thing I’ve ever seen.

Marcus Brumm, Lakeville South Class of ’07 – quarterback: Those eyes, man. It gives me chills thinking about it now. It didn’t matter what he said in his speeches, whatever it was, it gave you the feeling you’d run through a wall for him.

Bob Kovich: The late 90s, when [Vossen] was coming through, was really when our program took off. Lakeville was growing like crazy; the high school could barely hold all the students; it was getting constantly renovated. Our youth programs were awesome; our freshman and sophomore teams almost never lost. We had a couple future NFL players coming through. We were becoming like an Eden Prairie, really.

Brian Vossen: Once I got to high school, [Thompson] became like a second father to me. I honestly felt like he loved me. He’s always treated his best players that way; I know it pissed off the guys who didn’t play. I had buddies who hated him. But to most of us he was a god. We would have murdered for him; we honestly believed he was the greatest coach that had ever lived.

Dick Zeman: We weren’t coaching the good ole farm boys anymore like the old days.

Matt Kuenzli, Class of ’04 – lineman; Lakeville North defensive line coach: 2011-present: I played my first varsity game as a sophomore in 2001. From then on, whether it was “T”, Zeman or Comer, those guys treated me like I was their son or something. Larry was a great dude. I think our group will always have a special place with him and the coaches. A state championship will do that too.

Mike Zweber: The 2003 team was the best high school football team I’ve ever seen. We went 14-0 and dominated everyone. Some of the best football moments I’ve ever been apart of…beating Eden Prairie twice, ending their winning streak that had lasted like eight years or something. It was an amazing season.

Chad Pothen, Lakeville High School/Lakeville North sophomore football coach: 2001-present: The first time I really got what Larry was about was in the championship season, 2003, before our state playoff game against Eden Prairie. My brother, Ben, was in town for the first time in years and came to watch the game. Larry saw us by the bleachers and introduced himself and chatted away with Ben for what seemed like forever. I look up at the scoreboard clock and see the game is going to start in like four minutes. I was like “T, we gotta get going!” and he just laughed and said “Chad, we’re fine.”

Brian Vossen: 2003 was my first year coaching, fresh out of a college football career at Mankato. I remember telling my buddies we’d maybe go 4-4 or something; I thought they were small and weak, just average. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After we scored 42 points in the first half of the first game of the season in Bloomington, I texted one of my friends during halftime and told him we won’t lose a game.

John Millea, former sports reporter at Star Tribune in Minneapolis: I followed Lakeville very closely that year. They were incredible. I remember how well Larry sold that team to me. He just bluntly told me in interviews that they’d never lose. He guaranteed victory against Eden Prairie as early as July, I think, that season. They must have had six or seven guys on our All-Metro team; they probably should have had more than that.

Peter Ruhl, Class of ’04 – linebacker: The thing that sticks out for me from high school football was just how confident we all were. We never expected to lose; “T” convinced us we were the best team in the state before we even played a game. Our motto that year was “Shock and Awe.” I think we did that.

Dan Noehring, Lakeville South Class of ’10 – wide receiver: I went to every game that year. There was something really different about Lakeville football growing up, like an aura or something – the stadium, the red jerseys and white helmets, the Panther logo. As a sixth grader, I thought those guys in 2003 were the best football players on the planet. I thought Larry Thompson was a genius before I ever played for him.

Dick Zeman: That year was a lot of fun. I think that was the kind of thing we all envisioned when we started coaching together all those years ago. It was perfect in a lot of ways.

THE SPLIT

In the fall of 2005, Lakeville split into two high schools: Lakeville North, the old school, and Lakeville South, the new one. A majority of the varsity football staff went with Thompson to the new school on the south side of town.

Brian Vossen: Once [the split] became official, Larry was pretty open in the fact that he would be leaving for the new school. He told us we were all going over there too; we were just like “okay that’s what we’ll do.” We started kind of recruiting some North guys to move over to the south side; it was pretty shady stuff. For the longest time I thought I would be coaching and teaching at South.

Mike Zweber: It got down to the wire and they hadn’t found a replacement for Larry at North. We all thought we’d stay together and coach at South. All of our young talent was going to South. Everyone got asked to apply for the North job, I was the only that did that I know of. I’m really lucky [Vossen and Kovich] agreed to stay with me.

Dick Johnson: Us older coaches are like brothers. Whatever we were going to do, we were going to do it together.

Bob Kovich: The original staff was kind of like Jerry Kill’s and the Gophers. They were incredibly loyal and would have followed Larry to coach in Antarctica if that’s where he wanted to coach. It would have been really easy for me to go with them to South.

THE RIVALRY

Dick Zeman: Yeah, we were South guys now, but we were always going to be Panthers. We never wanted the rivalry to get it where it got.

Mike Zweber: Those losses to South kept me up many nights.

Brian Vossen: The rivalry got the best of me, I’ll admit. There was a moment in 2009, the fourth straight time they beat us, that I’m not proud of. [The South players] were acting so incredibly cocky in my mind. It was like they were being taught the opposite of everything we learned when I played for those guys. Larry was dancing, like one of those Marinette puppets connected to string, down the sideline after they beat us that day. It was the lowest I ever thought of him. In the handshake line after the game, I cursed out Dave Comer for how classless they had become. I can’t believe it I did that; I was honestly terrified of Dave Comer when I was a kid.

Dave Comer: I called Brian the next day and apologized to him. I think he made some good points. We had gotten pretty bigheaded.

Brian Vossen: Dave was apologetic and nice and classy when we talked the next day. I felt like such an idiot, but the rivalry had gotten to that point for us. It turned us against each other; I remember getting in arguments with our own assistants after those losses to South – throwing shit in the coaches’ locker room and screaming at my friends. It helped me grow as a coach I think; it helped Lakeville North Football grow.

THE LEGACY

Mitch Leidner: I love my college coaches a lot but it’s hard to compete with Coach T. Those guys really took care of me; I don’t think I’d be where I’m at without them.

Dan Noehring: I love those guys. Larry was my neighbor growing up and always reminded me how great being a Panther was. I hated that I had to go to South. I hated the colors and the mascot. But it was still Larry Thompson’s program and that’s all that mattered.  Having those guys as coaches kind of spoiled me I think; I’ve had a lot of success playing at St. Thomas but football just isn’t the same to me.

Jay Ruhl, Lakeville South Class of ’10 – linebacker: Playing football for Larry is like a family tradition for me; my five brothers played for him too. My youngest brother, Mark, was the last one to go through this fall. Larry cried at the end of the year banquet when he talked about our family. We all cried too.

Bob Kovich: When I think back on those years with Larry, I remember the downtime we had together. The scouting trips down to Rochester or wherever and just bullshitting in the car, grabbing beers as a coaching staff. We laughed a lot. We always made it fun – fun for us, fun for the players. Those guys will always be close friends of mine.

John Millea: In all my years covering prep sports in Minnesota, I can say pretty certainly that no one has more fun coaching than Larry Thompson.

Chad Pothen: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people joke that if Larry ran for Mayor of Lakeville he’d win by a landslide. And it really isn’t a joke because he honestly would.

Jason Albrecht: No one in Lakeville loves Lakeville more than Larry does. He surrounded himself with guys that were committed to him and committed to the town. We’re trying to continue that at North; I think we’re doing a good job at it.

Brian Vossen: I’ve tried to maintain all the traditions Larry started at Lakeville. I will always put “LAKEVILLE” on the back of our jerseys instead of last names. I will never make too drastic of changes to the uniforms. Panther football is an institution because of him; I’m convinced Friday nights in Lakeville are different than anywhere else because of him. He’s a politician really; he’s great at getting what he wants and getting the best out of people.