Longtime Coeur d'Alene Viking Schwenke inducted into national AD hall of fame
Courtesy photo Longtime former Coeur d'Alene High athletic director Larry Schwenke was inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame on Dec. 14 in Denver. Also pictured is Lisa Langston, NIAAA president; and Mike Blackburn, NIAAA executive director.
Courtesy photo Longtime former Coeur d'Alene High athletic director Larry Schwenke poses with family after being inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame on Dec. 14 in Denver. Seated from left are daughters Andi Sadler and Ann Jaworski; Larry Schwenke, wife Laurie and daughter Keri Carter; and standing from left, grandchildren Bailey Jaworski, Cole Jaworski, Justin Jaworski, Julia Jaworski, Ian Sadler and Jaime Jaworski. Not pictured is grandson Aaron Sadler, who was at a CHS band concert.
Larry Schwenke, former longtime athletic director at Coeur d'Alene High, was recently inducted into the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame.
Schwenke was honored Dec. 14 at the National Athletic Directors Conference at the Denver Convention Center.
"To be nominated for this career recognition by our Idaho AD association and to be selected by peers from across the nation is an unbelievable and humbling experience," Schwenke said. "An award like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I am incredibly grateful for everyone who played a part in any success I’ve had.
"As a single parent during my early years, my mom, Shirlee taught me life lessons of humility, work ethic and respect for others. Laurie, my wife for 52 years, has always stood with me through the good and not so good — even taking tickets at hundreds of Viking events."
Schwenke, 74, worked for the Coeur d'Alene School District for 35 years, including 14 years as athletic director at Coeur d'Alene High.
At CHS, he oversaw a $13 million remodel and facilities upgrade, which included an all-weather track, press box, softball and baseball fields, tennis courts, wrestling and weight rooms, and a second gym.
He spent 20 years with the Viking football program, including four years as head coach. He was head softball coach for 14 seasons, winning 12 straight state slowpitch titles.
Schwenke is secretary of the Idaho High School Activities Association District 1 Board of Control.
He was an 18-year member of the executive board of the Idaho Athletic Administrators Association as an officer.
He earned the Certified Athletic Administrator designation in 1996, and in 2001, he became just the third Idaho administrator to earn the Certified Master Athletic Administration designation.
Schwenke received the NIAAA State Award of Merid in 2002, and a year later received the National Federation of High Schools Citation award.
"I learned so much from the kids and coaches I worked with at CHS for the first 20 years, but have to thank principal Steve Casey for hiring me as activities director and vice principal in 1993," Schwenke said. "Together with an awesome staff we tried to live up to our mantra 'Do The Right Thing.'
"The activity secretaries — Margo Peebles, Irene Ihly and Judy Mayotte — were absolutely invaluable. I’m also thankful for the administration that allowed me the opportunity to get involved on the state and national level, a desire inspired by Marquis Ross, AD at Centennial High School, who was a founding father of the IAAA.
"Being a part of Viking Nation will always be a source of pride. My license plate is OAV AAV — Once a Viking, Always a Viking."
Before coming to Coeur d'Alene in 1972, Schwenke taught and coached for one year at Great Falls (Mont.) Central High, then went to grad school at the University of North Dakota.
"Finally, it’s really hard to find the words to adequately describe the love and appreciation our family has for the entire community of Coeur d’Alene," Schwenke said. "We have been so blessed to be members of what we believe to be the greatest city in America."
His recent Hall of Fame induction marks his fourth induction into a Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the IAAA Hall of Fame, the IHSAA Hall of Fame and the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.
