Larry Kindbom - Former WashU Football Head Coach On Winning & Losing Are Imposters

#225: Larry Kindbom is the former Wash U head football coach. His a highly respected figure in collegiate athletics, recognized for his remarkable career as a football coach and mentor spanning more than four decades. A former standout defensive back and baseball player at Kalamazoo College, Kindbom began his coaching career at Ohio State with Woody Hayes before serving as an assistant at the University of Akron. He earned his first head coaching opportunity at Kenyon College in 1983, where he led both the football and baseball programs, before taking the helm at Washington University in St. Louis in 1989.

Over the next 31 seasons, Kindbom transformed Washington University’s football program into a model of consistency and excellence. He retired as the winningest coach in school history with a record of 192–119, capturing 12 University Athletic Association championships, a Southern Athletic Association title, and leading the Bears to three NCAA Division III playoff appearances. His teams produced 33 All-Americans and 15 Academic All-Americans, including Brandon Roberts, recipient of the prestigious Draddy Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.” 

In 2016, Kindbom reached the distinguished milestone of 200 career victories, finishing with 220 wins showing a testament to his longevity and sustained success. He is one of only a handful of coaches in all college divisions to ever reach 200 plus wins. More than just the wins Coach Kindbom spent his career investing in the lives of his players on and off the field. 

Check out his new book Winning and Losing Are Imposters: Leadership Lessons from the Sidelines, as well as his social in the the links below. 

Enjoy the show!