The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2017
Sport: Basketball (1971-74)
Inducted: 2017
What began as an all-star high school career in basketball in the Hoosier state of Indiana for Harry Larrabee has transcended geography, but has never strayed from excellence. As a sophomore in 1971-72, Larrabee took over as the point guard midway through a season that would help Texas, and the rest of its Southwest Conference members, reestablish order in the Lone Star State. Texas hadn't won a conference championship since the mid-1960s, and the Houston Cougars had supplanted the Longhorns and the rest of the SWC as the basketball power in the southwest. After teaming with fellow Hall of Honor members Larry Robinson and Jimmy Blacklock to earn an SWC crown, Larrabee led the Longhorns to a shocking 85-74 victory over Houston in the NCAA First Round in Las Cruces, N. M. Despite numerous injuries down the stretch, Texas advanced to the Midwest Regionals for the first time in 10 seasons. Larrabee's Texas career was just beginning as Larrabee's basketball journey from Shelbyville, Ind., was continuing. He went on to captain the 'Horns for two seasons. He was chosen as the team's MVP in 1973 and earned all-SWC honors in 1974. Following his senior year, he became the first Longhorn basketball player to earn an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship. Then, it was off to other stops, and the first was at the University of Alaska in Anchorage, 4,277 miles away. There, he started his own dynasty with what was then an NCAA Division II program, which would include induction into the Seawolves' Hall of Honor. In two stints there (1979-86 and 1991-2000) he spent time as coach and athletics director as his teams won 167 games, three conference titles, earned three NCAA Tournament berths and eight wins over NCAA D-I teams. He headed back to the state of Texas in 1986, taking over the head coaching job at Texas State. Then, it was back to Alaska-Anchorage in 1991, where he was named "Div. II Coach of the Year" by Basketball Times in 1992. Even though health reasons forced him to step into administration a short time later, he did return to the bench as the interim coach of the Seawolf women. Finally, the road led him back to Shelbyville, where he returned as a high school head coach and led the 2005-06 team to a 21-0 undefeated regular season.
