Larry Kirksey, a 1969 Harlan High School graduate who enjoyed a long and distinguished coaching career in the National Football League, was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Kirksey went onto play wide receiver at Eastern Kentucky University after graduating from Harlan where he was three-year starter from 1969-72. He caught 32 passes for 502 yards as a senior, which earned him all-conference honors.
After college, Kirksey coached at the collegiate and pro level, including coaching Jerry Rice, the NFL’s all-time reception and receiving yards leader. Kirksey coached in the NFL for 17 seasons, landing with the 49ers, Lions, Jaguars, Broncos and Texans.
On the collegiate level, Kirksey coached as an assistant at Miami of Ohio (his first job as coach at age 23 after college), Middle Tennessee, UK (he was wide receivers and tight ends coach under Fran Curci from 1977-1981), Kansas, Florida, Pittsburgh, Alabama and Texas A&M. He waa head coach at Kentucky State University in 1983.
Kirksey was a multi-sport star at Harlan. He was a member of the 1969 HHS squad that won the 13th Region basketball title and played in the state tournament.
He was a senior receiver on the 1968 Harlan football team that may have been the best in school history. The Dragons finished 10-0-1 that season in the days when only one team per district made the playoffs. Harlan and Lynch played to a 12-12 tie at Huff Park in one of the most famous games in county history. Lynch, led by coach Ed Miracle and all-state running back Joe Washington, won the district tie-breaker and went on to capture the Class A state football title.