John Larson has moved up from the assistant coach ranks in football to become Littlefork-Big Falls’ new head coach in 2012.
Larson replaces Derek Bilben, who stepped down after seven seasons as the Vikings’ head football coach. L-BF went 2-7 in 2011 and lost in the opening round of the Section 7 nine-man playoffs.
Key graduation losses from last year’s team include running back Mitch Nelson, tight end Tyler Vork and linemen Jeff Fry and David Lutgen.
Sophomore quarterback Rylan Henrickson, who received honorable mention on last season’s nine-man team in the Big North Conference, is on Larson’s list of top returning athletes as part of the Vikings’ 21-player roster in 2012.
Larson said “work ethic and attitude” are strengths on this year’s team, while he is concerned the most about the “depth of the team.”
He said the goal this season is to “get better every day.”
Larson said he is looking forward this season to “watching these young men grow on and off the field.”
L-BF opens its regular season schedule Thursday at Silver Bay and then hosts Ely in the first home game Sept. 7.
“Every team is going to be good, so we need to play at a high level every day,” Larson said.
