We Mourn the Passing of Larry Cotlar

(St. Louis, MO) – Devastated. Heart-broken. Numb. Those are all words we are reading, hearing and feeling at the news of the tragic and sudden death of our friend Larry Cotlar. The long-time Drake Bulldog announcer lost his life Saturday night in a flooding incident.

Larry was a friend to many and deeply passionate about his family and Drake basketball. I consider it an honor to have known him and shared many stories and conversations with this gentleman and broadcasting pro.

During some flash flooding in the Des Moines area Larry was swept away from his car on Saturday night. The Des Moines Register gives us the details on his tragic death.

The 12-year veteran of Drake Bulldog basketball, Larry Cotlar had a long and illustrious broadcasting career, which led him to the write “The Biggest Rolodex in Sports“. His book told of his many broadcasting experiences with some of the biggest names in the industry. As a frequent guest of our ‘Voices of the Valley’ segments, one year we teamed up to give his book to all the other guests.

As one of the nicest men I’ve met in what can be a very competitive business, we shared St. Louis roots, being fathers to special needs children and a love for the Missouri Valley. It is a privilege to think that Larry Cotlar would have considered me a friend.

Of course everyone was Larry’s friend. He was kind, receptive, positive and energetic.

We are grief-stricken for his wife Deb and his sons.

His Love for Drake

Through the highs and lows of Drake basketball, Larry was unabashedly pro-Bulldog. During the three years prior to Niko Medved’s hiring he was bullish about how well Ray Giacoletti would perform and how outstandingly Jeff Rutter would succeed.

It was Larry Cotlar that first told me Nick McGlynn would be a significant contributor in Valley play, because of small things he had noticed about McGlynn’s attitude, effort and desire to improve.

He was the 2007 Iowa ‘Broadcaster of the Year‘ and like other veteran college play-by-play guys, he loved the action, the stories and living the journey with the coaches and players. He had a story for every occasion and truly cared about his co-workers.

All during is bout with prostate cancer he has been a huge cheerleader of men getting tested for the disease. Virtually every time we spoke, he would bring it up. While upbeat about his own recovery, the cheerful Cotlar was serious about men taking their check ups seriously.

Famous athletes and broadcasters names would roll off his tongue like it was no big deal, because he treated everyone the same. The ball boy or Dick Vitale. Tommy Lasorda or Harry Schroeder, it didn’t matter to Larry Cotlar he was a throw-back people person.

He was in the business to serve and support.

Personal Thoughts

I’ve gone back and watched and listened to recordings of Larry’s visits on ‘Voices of the Valley‘. In all of them we discussed Drake and the Valley, our families and past experiences. But what I remember most is that we laughed.

Larry Cotlar was a man with a zest for and an appreciation of life and people in his life. He spoke glowingly of his wife and children. He remembered fondly his St. Louis roots and his affection for the Cardinals.

This tragic loss will be felt far and wide in the State of Iowa, but also right here in St. Louis, Missouri. My loss is nothing like Deb’s, but today there is a strong awareness of the void left by Larry’s passing. Announcers come and go, but men who embrace their given teams with the kind of passion found in Larry Cotlar are rare.

Today our thoughts, and yes our prayers, are directed toward Heaven on behalf of Larry’s family, but make no mistake the Missouri Valley Conference and we here at ValleyHoopsInsider.com feel the loss of this great man.

In my recent interview with Darian DeVries, the first-year Drake coach told me Larry had popped in quite a few times and was excited about Drake basketball and how he was looking forward to working with Larry.

There is no replacing Larry Cotlar, but we will remember our friend and colleague. Many in Valley Country knew him more intimately than I, but I join the chorus of those telling the story of a man so rare and now so severely missed.

Larry Cotlar – Rest in Peace

 

 

Editor: To see our old interviews with Larry Cotlar, click on ‘Voices of the Valley #2‘ or ‘Voices of the Valley – Friday‘; or ‘Cotlar’s Take on Drake‘. You will hear his passion, joy and friendly demeanor, all while breaking down college basketball and the Drake program.