BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University athletics takes time to reflect and remember Don "Swede" Larson, a Titan athletics legend, who passed away on Nov. 29, 1994.

In his 39-year association with Illinois Wesleyan, including four as a student, Larson coached tennis, track and field, golf, and swimming, but is best known as the school's long-time football coach. He led the Titans from 1954-86. Larson compiled a career record of 166-121-6 for a .577 winning percentage, including a 142-89-6 (.618 winning percentage) in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play.

His teams won undisputed league titles in 1964 and 1965 and tied for the conference championship in 1974, 1977, and 1980. Ten of Larson's teams won or shared second place in the league and six won or shared third place, as only five of his teams lost more than they won in CCIW play.

Larson's 1965 football team won all eight of its games, joining the 1951 IWU squad as the only undefeated and untied teams in school history. He was voted the CCIW's Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1980, was NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year six times, and NAIA Area Six Coach of the Year once. He also served as chairman of the CCIW football coaches and golf coaches.

Off the gridiron, Larson served as president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), was a member of the NAIA rating board, and served as game chairman for several NAIA National Championships. 

After retiring from football following the 1986 season, Larson continued to coach golf and teach physical education until his retirement from IWU faculty in 1989. As golf coach he produced conference championships in 1959, 1960, 1968, 1970, and 1977. He also coached the IWU men's tennis teams to league titles in 1963 and 1964.

A native of Princeton, Ill., Larson was an all-around athletic start at Princeton High School. There, he helped the 1942 football team go undefeated before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. After joining Illinois Wesleyan in 1946, Larson earned four football letters as a fullback and linebacker. He was named Most Valuable Player on the 1948 team that gave IWU its first CCIW football championship and upset Eastern Illinois in the Corn Bowl. He received honorable mention on the 1948 Associated Press Little All-American team and was selected as captain of the 1949 squad.

Upon graduation in 1950, Larson went to Rockford, Ill., where he served as a coach and teacher in the public school system before returning to IWU as head football coach in 1954.