The “Winningest” Coach in America
Coach Larry Gelwix secures another national championship, proving it’s not only about building championship teams, but championship boys
By: Leigh Dethman
PITTSBURGH, May 16, 2009 – Forget a three-peat, Salt Lake City-based rugby Coach Larry Gelwix (whose coaching philosophy is immortalized in the film Forever Strong, debuting on DVD May 26) led his team Highland Rugby to its 19th national rugby championship title on Saturday.
Saturday’s national championship win brought Gelwix’s overall win/loss total in his 34 years of coaching to an unprecedented 392-9. That’s a 98 percent winning record, and marks Gelwix as the winningest coach in America. The coaching records of legendary coaches like the Tennessee Lady Vol’s Pat Summit (84 percent), UCLA’s John Wooden (81 percent), and the NFL’s Vince Lombardi (74 percent) still fall short to Gelwix.
Since the inception of a sanctioned High School National Tournament 25 years ago, Highland Rugby has won the national title 19 times, finished 2nd five times and 3rd only once. Salt Lake City’s Deseret News called Gelwix’s record “mind boggling.”
The team‘s championship legacy is immortalized in the new DVD, FOREVER STRONG, which releases May 26. The film showcases Gelwix’s formula for success—a strong ethical code to achieve victory on and off the field. The result? Championship teams and championship boys.
Following in the tradition of Rudy, Remember the Titans and We are Marshall, FOREVER STRONG offers sports action, drama and the results of following a strong ethical code to achieve victory on and off the field.
Coach Gelwix’s motto throughout his 34-year coaching career at Highland, “Be forever strong on the field, so you can be forever strong off the field,” has inspired countless teenage boys and serves as the driving force behind an unstoppable rugby powerhouse.
For more information, visit www.foreverstrongmovie.com
Bob Nilsen, Larry Gelwix | patrick May 19, 2009
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By Beverly Millis, June 12, 2009 @ 6:58 pm
My husband and I throughly enjoyed your movie. Especially the added features of Larry Gelwix. I passed this of to my Bishop and family of growing children. These messages are so vital. Loved the way Larry was able to speak of these in such a way that our teens would understand.