Larry Holden’s philosophy that he instilled in his players was to play hard all the time and that the game was a team game. They tried to be better prepared and out work their opponents. He wanted his players to have the will to win but more importantly he wanted them to have the will to prepare to win.

Coach Holden’s teams were known for their tough match-up defense and league opponents dreaded that aspect of competition when playing Beavercreek. In the 1998-99 season Beavercreek’s regular season record was 20-0.. They were the only Division I team in Ohio to go undefeated during the regular season that year and had the best record in the history of Beavercreek basketball. Their final record was 25-1.

Beavercreek’s biggest win was during the 1987-88 season when they defeated Dayton Dunbar in the Sectional Finals. Dunbar was ranked #1 in the state and #6 in the nation. The game was played in front of 12,000 people. Dunbar won the state the previous season and had four returning starters.

At one time Beavercreek had won 46 in a row at home over six seasons and 69 of 71 over eight seasons. During his tenure at Beavercreek Larry’s team had a winning record against every team in the Western Ohio League.

Larry graduated from Whitmer High School and Defiance College playing basketball at both schools. He was elected to Defiance College Hall of Fame in 1990 and to Whitmer Hall of Fame in 2002.

Coach Holden started his coaching career at Lake High School and remained there for four years. He then moved to Beavercreek where he coached for 24 years. His teams won 7 League, 8 Sectional, 3 District Championships and hade two Regional Runners-up. In addition he was selected League Coach of the Year seven times, District Coach of the Year five times, and AP Coach of the Year in the Southwest District three times. His teams won 376 games, an average of 16 wins per year and a winning percent of 71%.

Larry was head baseball coach at Start High School where he won two sectional titles and head golf coach at Beavercreek and won three league titles. One of his golf teams finished sixth in the state.

Coach was very active in the OHSBCA serving two years as District 15 President and ten years as District 15 Director. Larry received the Bob Arnzen Longevity Award from the OHSBCA.

Larry has been married to his wife, Pat for 33 years and they have three sons, Brett, Todd and Jamie, which all three played for Larry. They are active in the Church of Christ in Beavercreek.