Bruce Larson stands inside Bear Down Gym, where he coached UA's Wildcats from 1961-71.
It was good to see former Arizona basketball coach Bruce Larson back in the Arizona Stadium press box last week. Larson has been a regular in the press box for more than 20 years, but missed the ’17 season after the death of his wife. Few in UA history have a more compelling story than Larson. He coached Weber State to the NJCAA national title in 1959 and was hand-picked to replace Fred Enke. The timing was good, but also not so good. Arizona still played at Bear Down Gym, which was almost 40 years old and outdated when Larson became the head coach in 1961-62. He coached for 11 seasons in the old gym, and was replaced the year McKale Center opened. “I played the hand I was dealt,” he told me. Although Larson is 92, he looks much younger and remains active, golfing weekly.
