University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Hall of Fame Insider: Larry Cook
02.15.2024 | General, Men's Soccer
Story by Mike Gore
Thank goodness Hank Komodowski didn't go by first impressions when it came to Larry Cook.
Hank was UNC Asheville's soccer coach in the early 1980's. He inherited a struggling NAIA program and had worked hard to make it much better. The Bulldogs had shown considerable improvement in the 1982 season and Hank thought Asheville could be even better in 1983. But they needed a goalkeeper.
"We had a really good goalkeeper in 1982 named Sean Kelly who transferred to us from Davis & Elkins," said Komodowski recently from his home in Sylva. "But he was a senior and I knew I would only have him for one year.
"We had a really good nucleus coming back, but we needed a goalkeeper," added Komodowski.
Goalkeeper Larry Cook played for the Bulldogs from 1983-86 and still holds many game, season, and career records, almost 40 years after he last wore a Blue & White Asheville uniform. He will be inducted into the UNC Asheville Athletics Hall of Fame this Friday night along with contributor Pete McDaniel and former baseball standout Kevin Hawkins.
Hank had seen Larry play in a state playoff game. Cook attended Morrow HS and they had played a great St. Pius team in the third round. This sort of started Larry's path to UNC Asheville.
"I saw Larry play against St. Pius but really hadn't made any decision about him," remembered Komodowski. "He sent me a letter and told me he would be playing in the Georgia All-Star game."
"I have to admit I got to UNC Asheville by accident," stated Cook recently from his home in Ohio. "I was playing at Morrow HS. It's a school just outside of Atlanta. We played a team called St. Pius in the state playoffs. Hank came down to see a player from St. Pius and ended up seeing me, too.
"I also got a chance to play in the first ever Georgia All-Star soccer game and Hank saw me play there, as well," added Cook.
Except he almost didn't get to see him play and when Cook finally got in the game, things didn't go well.
"The Georgia All-Star game is the best players from Atlanta against the rest of the state," Komodowski explained. "Larry played for the squad from the rest of the state.
"And I was a little disappointed because Larry wasn't playing in the game. Thankfully, he got in the game with about 20 minutes to go," he added.
While other college coaches were sitting around and talking and not really watching the game, Asheville's coach took notice right away.
"Larry came in on a corner kick. I was impressed at how he was trying to take charge of the defense and made sure the defenders were all in the right place," Hank said.
But then the corner kick came and it quickly went into the back of the net as the Atlanta team had added another goal. It was not the best first impression.
"I was a little bummed when that happened because I thought I had come down to see Larry play and he let in a corner kick because he wasn't ready," said Komodowski.
But Larry would redeem himself and a Bulldog legend would begin to take shape.
"A few minutes later, someone from Atlanta took a shot that looked like it was going into the top corner of the goal. Larry leaped about six feet in the air and caught the ball. I was the only coach still watching the match and thought, I've found my goalkeeper," stated Komodowski.
"I could always teach Larry how to work with his defenders on a corner kick, but that save he made where he jumped six feet in the air, I can't teach that. No one can teach that," he added.
Hank was hoping no one else saw the incredible save.
"It was late in the game and I was hoping that no one else had seen this incredible save. I waited for the end of the match and I made a beeline to Larry. I invited him to Asheville and in the back of my mind, I knew we had a goalkeeper."
"It didn't take me long to see that UNC Asheville was the right place for me," declared Cook. "I loved the small campus and environment."
Success came quickly for Cook. He had an outstanding rookie year, setting a school record for shutouts with 10.
His sophomore season was good as well as the Bulldogs faced a little tougher schedule but posted a still school-record 14 victories. Asheville advanced to the District 26 championship game before falling to Catawba in the title game, as the Dogs just missed going to the national tournament.
"My first two years at UNC Asheville were wonderful seasons for soccer," said Cook. "Our team was full of upperclassmen and enjoyed a great deal of success.
"I remember beating a great App State team at our place in 1984 and there were plenty of other highlights," he added.
Larry also enjoyed life off the field at Asheville.
"I grew up with a military background and everything was timed out and had to be done at a certain time," Larry commented. "Asheville allowed me to grow as an individual. I made more than 20 friends who took me under their arms and helped me grow. It's something I'll never forget. Those friends were just awesome and had a great impact on me."
The 1985 and 1986 seasons were transition years for the Asheville athletic program. The school was headed to the Big South Conference and Division I athletics. Asheville's schedule was a lot tougher with stronger opponents.
"It was a huge jump in the quality of opponents we faced my last two years," he admitted. "Our team didn't quite have the success we had the first two years but it was exciting to take our program from NAIA to Division I."
One constant in the Asheville program during those two seasons was Cook's play. He started and played in most matches and was simply outstanding. One opposing coach who had played against Larry his entire career had this to say after a match in 1986.
"I don't ever want to see Larry Cook again. I'm coming to his graduation to make sure he's finally finished tormenting us," stated the coach.
Larry graduated with a degree in Economics in the spring of 1987. A few years after graduating came an incredible opportunity in England.
Cook was invited to try out for the Coventry City club team. He was impressing everyone with his play when a shoulder injury sidelined him.
"Larry getting an opportunity with Coventry City was a huge deal. That's English soccer at its finest and they're usually not too interested in goalkeepers from America," explained Komodowski.
Larry returned to America and then began a career in the military, where he met his wife. He later went into the insurance business and worked for 25 years before retiring. Larry's working part-time now but is delighted to come back to Asheville and take his place in the Hall of Fame.
"I am grateful for UNC Asheville to put me in the Hall of Fame. I understand I had many of my old teammates who supported me getting this honor. That means more than anything to me that those guys would take time out of their schedule to nominate me," explained Cook. "I'm really looking forward to coming back to UNC Asheville this weekend."
