By Dalcon DeMaranville
Geneseo Current

After 145 wins and two state runner-up trophies, Larry Johnsen Jr. stepped down from the football head coaching duties at Geneseo. I had the opportunity to sit down with Larry Johnsen, his wife Sarah, and his son Luke. Not to discuss his head coaching career, but to discuss the next phase of life Larry and his family.

I began with, “Coach, we’ve experienced the pouring rain in LaSalle, the incredible 2009 playoff comeback at home against Plano, and the exhilarating state championship game in 2013. But this fall, come August and September, how will things be different for you?” Johnsen simply responded with, “I don’t know how I’m going to transition.” He continued, “I’ll be thinking about how the guys are doing, I’ll be thinking how things are going. But I won’t be that guy sticking my nose in things.”

We have footage of Coach Johnsen as a ball boy from state championship games in the 1970’s. He’s seen standing next to Bob Reade on the sidelines. Johnsen has lived Geneseo football since he was a child and it’s very much a part of him. I asked him how personal this football program is to him. Coach Johnsen says “I’m very lucky. I’ve been around some very good people that understand the big picture. Some people that have helped raise me but who have helped raise my family. It takes a village to raise a child and I’m thankful that village is Geneseo.”

For many dads and granddads who have been through the program themselves, watching their kids or grandkids ring the victory bell is an emotional experience. For Johnsen, it was no different. “It is special to me. Whether it was Luke or Lauren, I always wanted my kids to have the same experiences I had. Whenever my kids were on the field, I kept my eye on them. It meant a lot to me and hopefully it meant a lot to my kids.”

I then turned and asked Luke Johnsen the same question. Luke said, “Not many guys can say they got to ring the victory bell like their dad, especially when their dad is the coach and we got to share that.” Luke Johnsen continues, “I was a ball boy in 2013 when we went to state, that’s a unique experience and not may kids get to experience that. I was a ball boy in elementary school and middle school and our football program is special to me.”

But perhaps nobody had a take like Sarah Johnsen. The wife of a football head coach is a tough job. She is oftentimes the emotional support system and the family glue.

I asked Sarah what it was like being the wife of the Geneseo football head coach. Sarah said “There were so many incredible memories. The families really took us in and loved us. I really loved watching Larry do what he loved every Friday night. I enjoyed watching Luke as a ball boy and watching Lauren as a trainer. Geneseo football has been our life for so long.”

I questioned Sarah “What will it be like to take a step back and breathe a little bit. To go on the road and watch your kids be involved in intercollegiate sports.” Sarah quickly responded with “It will be nice to go on Tuesday night trips to Lauren’s volleyball games and not have to make the journey by myself.” She continued, “To be able to load up on a Saturday make the trip to wherever Luke is playing football and enjoy supporting him and his team with other parents.”

Over the winter, Larry Johnsen Jr. was elected to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Coach Johnsen is fifth head coach since the beginning of the Reade era to receive this honor.

Geneseo football is a community program. We’ve been very fortunate to have only five head coaches in 60 years. Five head coaches who have led to the success of young men, both on and off the football field. Thank you to the Johnsen family for the decades of memories.

My Uncle’s Run,” written and illustrated by nine-year-old Tanner DeSplinter, has a special place in the heart of Geneseo High School’s retiring head football coach Larry Johnsen Jr. The young “author,” son of Grant and Taylor DeSplinter, is Johnsen’s nephew, and the book was his retirement to his uncle. Photos by Claudia Loucks