Track/CC Tabs Larry Levine As Assistant Coach

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field/cross country program has a new assistant coach with the appointment of Larry Levine to the full-time post in an announcement made today (Sept. 8) by FSU head coach Steve Picucci.

The 47-year old Levine most recently spent the last 12 years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Central Michigan where his throwers were instrumental in the men's and women's teams earning a total of seven Mid-American Conference (MAC) team championships.  In his tenure at CMU, Levine coached 26 All-MAC performers, including 13 conference champions and multiple school-record holders.

He will serve as the program's assistant coach and help oversee the track and field strength and conditioning efforts as well as assisting with various administrative and recruiting duties.

"I am extremely excited to bring Larry into the program," Picucci said.  "His knowledge and expertise will strengthen our track and field program and give us a tremendous boost as we continue to progress.

"Additionally, Larry's dedication to the sport of track and field and the development of the student athletes is incredible and will be a valuable asset," he added.

While at Central Michigan, Levine coached 33 NCAA Division I provisional national and regional qualifiers, including national championship competitor David Stallworth in the 35-pound weight throw.  Most recently, Levine guided Greg Pilling to NCAA-I All-America status in the discus, where he set the MAC record with the sixth-best throw in the nation (197-2).

Levine arrived at CMU after serving as the assistant men's and women's coach at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, from 1991 to 1997.  At Wartburg, he developed weight training and conditioning programs for the throwers and coached 17 NCAA Division III national qualifiers along with six All-America performers.  He was also a teacher at Allison-Bristow Community Schools in Allison, Iowa.

As a member of the Iowa Wesleyan College track and field team, Levine competed in the throwing events.  After his collegiate experience, he continued to compete in the throws along with both powerlifting and Olympic lifting.  He is a USA Track and Field Level II certified coach in the throws and is currently in the Level III certification process.

Levine graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1986 with a degree in education.  He and his wife, Barb, reside in Mount Pleasant with their children, Thadd, and Lane.  He is a 1980 graduate of Muscatine (Iowa) High School.