MINNEAPOLIS, MN - March 22, 2018 - A member of several halls of fame and the long-time Minnesota high school victories leader, former Cambridge-Isanti coach George Larson will receive the John Gagliardi Legacy Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. He will be recognized at the 11th Annual Minnesota Football Honors on April 29 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Larson, a South Dakota native with degrees from Northern State University and the University of Minnesota, started his football coaching career at Jeffers High School in 1956. In 1958, he was hired in the Cambridge-Isanti district, where he stayed until 1993. Larson returned for the 1999 and 2000 seasons and brought his career record to a staggering 307-66-6.

The Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets won state championships under Larson in 1986, 1987 and 2000 and notched runner-up finishes in 1989 and 1999. Larson’s teams tallied 25 conference titles and 16 section titles. He was named the Minnesota High School Football Coach of the Year in 1971 and 1986, the first coach to win it twice. Larson was a finalist for National Coach of the Year in 1988.

Larson is a member of the Bluejacket, Minnesota Football Coaches, Minnesota Athletic Directors and Minnesota High School League Halls of Fame. Outside of coaching, he was the Isanti County Commissioner for 22 years, a member of the American Legion for 65 years and helped establish the Isanti County Park System and Isanti County Heartland Express.

The John Gagliardi Legacy Award is named for the coach who led Saint John’s University to four national titles and 27 MIAC championships. He was at the helm for the Johnnies from 1953-2012.

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation will host the 11th Annual Minnesota Football Honors on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The event is presented by the Minnesota Vikings and is the largest football awards event in Minnesota. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 4 p.m. event. The event is open to the public. Tickets are on sale now. For tickets and additional information about this year’s Minnesota Football Honors, please visit www.minnesotafootballhonors.com. For sponsorship information, please email lindsay@nffmn.org.

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About the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation:
The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and develop the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The MN Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, Facebook or Twitter.

Contact:
Lindsay Lommel, Event Manager
MN Chapter of The National Football Foundation
lindsay@nffmn.org