Larry McKenzie

Larry McKenzie Quick Facts

"Blowing the Whistle on Defeat and Despair"

Larry McKenzie, the only coach to win four straight state titles in the 99 year history of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball tournament is sharing his success strategies for “winning” on the court and in life.  Coach McKenzie shows why BASKETBALL is merely a metaphor and a tool that can be used to transform lives.

 Coach Larry McKenzie has the winning words and strategies for your business, church, school or organization. Larry successfully inspires  and motivates audiences everywhere to enjoy, achieve and go from the sidelines to become true players for your business, church, school or organization.

During his nine year tenure as Varsity basketball coach at Minneapolis Patrick Henry, Larry has used his ability to motivate young people in establishing one of the most successful high school boys basketball programs in the nation.  The National Federation of High School Coaches Association honored him with the 2001 Coach Award for Minnesota. With the same vision and skills used on the court, Larry has inspired countless youth and adults off the court.

Larry is a long time community  and youth advocate with 20 plus years of experience working with urban youth. His service to young people has earned him numerous awards and recognition including KARE 11's Eleven Who Care, KTCA's Everyday Hero, and the Minneapolis Park Board's Volunteer of the Year.

His commitment to the community has been valued  as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, serving on the Metropolitan Council Minority Issues Advisory Committee, and as a board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Minneapolis, the North Community YMCA, , the Northside Development Council, a numerous other non profit organizations.

Larry's professional background includes 25 years of business experience in management, sales, and marketing—including 10 years in the non-profit sector. His experience includes serving  as Executive Director of Hospitality House Youth Directions, an urban youth ministry, the Urban Director at Youth Frontiers which provides character education to numerous Minnesota schools, Executive Director and Program Director of Right Step Academy, an urban charter school and mentoring program.

He is a 1980 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, holding a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.