# Larry Kramer (American football)

Larry Ronald Kramer (April 6, 1942 – January 25, 2014) was an American football player and coach of football and baseball. He played college football at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he was consensus selection at tackle to the 1964 College Football All-America Team. Kramer served as the head football coach at Southern Oregon College—now known as Southern Oregon University—in Ashland, Oregon from 1970 to 1971, Austin College in Sherman, Texas from 1973 to 1982, and Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas from 1983 to 1994, compiling career college football coaching record of 124–115–5. He led his 1981 Austin team to a share of the NAIA Division II Football National Championship.

## Coaching career

After a training camp stint with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL), Kramer returned his alma mater, Nebraska, as an assistant coach for the freshman football team. In 1966, he was hired as an assistant football coach at McCook Junior College in McCook, Nebraska. Kramer was promoted to head coach a year later, leading to the team to a record of 18–9–3 in three seasons.

### Southern Oregon

Kramer was the head football coach at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. He held that position for the 1970 and 1971 seasons. His coaching record at Southern Oregon was 3–17.

### Austin

Kramer was initially hired in May 1973 by Austin College to serve as defensive coordinator for the football team and head baseball coach. A month later, he was named head football coach, succeeding Duane Nutt, who was appointed co-assistant athletic director. Kramer was Austin's head football coach for ten seasons, from 1973 to 1982, and led the Kangaroos to a share of the NAIA Division II Football National Championship in 1981. He was named Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) Coach of the Year in 1979 and 1981.

### Emporia State

Kramer was the 18th head football coach for Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas and he held that position for twelve seasons, from 1983 until 1994. His coaching record at Emporia State was 71–54. While at Emporia State, Kramer coached future National Football League (NFL) standout Leon Lett.

## Personal life

Kramer earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1965 and a master's degree in 1966. He and his wife have four children.

## Head coaching record
### College football

| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs |
| Southern Oregon Red Raiders (Evergreen Conference) (1970–1972) ||||||
| 1970 | Southern Oregon | 1–9 | 1–5 | 7th | |
| 1971 | Southern Oregon | 2–8 | 1–4 | 6th | |
| Southern Oregon: | Southern Oregon: | 3–17 | 2–9 | | |
| Austin Kangaroos (NAIA Division II independent) (1973–1975) ||||||
| 1973 | Austin | 3–5–1 | | | |
| 1974 | Austin | 2–6–1 | | | |
| 1975 | Austin | 3–5–1 | | | |
| Austin Kangaroos (Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1976–1982) ||||||
| 1976 | Austin | 3–7 | 0–4 | 5th | |
| 1977 | Austin | 1–8 | 1–3 | 4th | |
| 1978 | Austin | 3–6–1 | 2–5–1 | 4th | |
| 1979 | Austin | 9–2 | 7–1 | 1st | L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal |
| 1980 | Austin | 8–2 | 8–2 | 2nd | |
| 1981 | Austin | 11–1–1 | 9–1 | T–1st | T NAIA Division II Championship |
| 1982 | Austin | 7–2 | 6–2 | 2nd | |
| Austin: | Austin: | 50–44–5 | 33–18–1 | | |
| Emporia State Hornets (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) (1983–1989) ||||||
| 1983 | Emporia State | 2–8 | 1–6 | T–7th | |
| 1984 | Emporia State | 3–7 | 2–5 | T–6th | |
| 1985 | Emporia State | 6–4 | 3–4 | T–4th | |
| 1986 | Emporia State | 8–2 | 5–2 | 2nd | |
| 1987 | Emporia State | 7–4 | 4–3 | T–3rd | L NAIA Division I First Round |
| 1988 | Emporia State | 8–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | L NAIA Division I First Round |
| 1989 | Emporia State | 11–2 | 3–0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Championship |
| Emporia State Hornets (NCAA Division II independent) (1990–1994) ||||||
| 1990 | Emporia State | 6–4 | | | |
| Emporia State Hornets (Missouri / Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1991–1994) ||||||
| 1991 | Emporia State | 5–5 | 4–5 | T–6th | |
| 1992 | Emporia State | 7–3 | 6–3 | T–3rd | |
| 1993 | Emporia State | 3–7 | 3–6 | T–6th | |
| 1994 | Emporia State | 5–5 | 4–5 | 7th | |
| Emporia State: | Emporia State: | 71–54 | 40–41 | | |
| Total: | Total: | 124–115–5 | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||