Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator, Dallas Cowboys scout Larry Lacewell dies at 85

Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator and Dallas Cowboys scout Larry Lacewell died Wednesday, according to the Sooners’ Twitter account. He was 85.

Lacewell served on the OU staff in 1966 as a coach for the freshmen, and later returned to Norman in 1969 as defensive ends coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator a year later, a position he would hold until 1977. He was also a part of national championship teams in 1974 and 1975 as a member of Barry Switzer’s staff, as well as six Big Eight titles.

Lacewell would later join the Dallas Cowboys in 1992 as the director of college scouting. In 1994, he reunited with Switzer, who became the Cowboys head coach, and was promoted to the director of college and pro scouting. Lacewell helped Dallas win three Super Bowls during his time with the franchise, including one with Switzer in 1995. He retired from the game completely in 2005.

Lacewell began his coaching career in 1959 as a graduate assistant under legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant. Although he spent just one season in Tuscaloosa, he still holds a special place in Crimson Tide lore. The road that leads up to Bear Bryant Stadium is named Larry Lacewell Lane.

In between his stints with the Sooners and Cowboys, Lacewell also served as the head football coach and athletic director at Arkansas State from 1979 to 1990. The Fordyce, Arkansas, native led ASU to a 69-58-4 record over those 11 seasons, including a 12-2 finish and appearance in the Division I-AA title game in 1986. He earned Southland Conference Coach of the Year three times and left as the winningest coach in program history.

Lacewell also made stops as an assistant at both Iowa State and Tennessee during his time as a coach.

Lacewell was later inducted into Arkansas State’s ring of honor, as well as the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He resided in Jonesboro, where the campus of Arkansas State is located, until his death with his wife, Criss.