After 30 seasons, 441 victories and 770 games at the helm of the MIT men’s basketball program, Larry Anderson, the David H. Koch ’62 Head Coach of Men’s Basketball at MIT, has announced his retirement.
“They say the best time to leave is when you can stay, and the best time to stay is when you can leave. That’s why today, I am announcing my retirement from MIT,” said Anderson.
“MIT has given me the best of both worlds with coaching and teaching, along with the opportunity to learn and grow. For me, leadership has always been about service, where the leader serves the organization, not the other way around. I always sought to be a servant leader and learned how to take charge without taking over.”
Anderson joined MIT in 1995 as the 18th head coach in program history. Driven by his “championship approach” of passion, hard work, accountability, toughness, and family, Anderson would go on to surpass legendary MIT coach Jack Barry as the winningest coach in MIT program history by 2008. In all, Anderson helped MIT win six NEWMAC Tournament Championships and four NEWMAC Regular-Season Championships, earning nine NCAA tournament bids and 10 NCAA Tournament victories.
Anderson is the only coach in program history to lead MIT to a No. 1 national ranking. His teams posted eleven 20+ win seasons over his tenure, perhaps none more impressive than 2011-12, when Anderson helped guide MIT to a 29-2 record and the program’s only appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Four. His postseason resume also included a run to the Division III Elite Eight in 2018.
“The reason we were able to experience any form of success is because other people wanted us to,” added Anderson. “We received world-class support from our senior administration, our athletic director, Dr. Anthony Grant, the entire athletic administration, an excellent coaching staff, and of course — our extremely talented players.”
Anderson’s own success was eclipsed only be the success of his student-athletes, as MIT has produced seven All-Americans, 13 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, including two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of the Year, five NEWMAC Players of the Year, 27 NEWMAC All-Conference Players, eight NEWMAC Rookies of the Year and five NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Players, along with numerous other regional and conference achievements and accolades. In 2009, Anderson coached National Player of the Year and Jostens Trophy award winner Jimmy Bartolotta ’09, one of three MIT graduates during Anderson’s tenure to go on and play professional basketball.
“Over the last three decades, Coach Anderson has made significant contributions within DAPER and across the Institute as a coach, mentor, and educator,” said Dr. G. Anthony Grant, Director of Athletics and DAPER Department Head.
“Throughout his tenure at MIT, he led the men’s basketball program with integrity, a deep commitment to competitive excellence, and instilled in his players lessons that would serve them well beyond the basketball court. We wish Larry the best as he embarks on retirement.”
A two-time New England Coach of the Year, three-time NEWMAC Coach of the Year and one time finalist for College Insider’s Glenn Robinson Division III National Coach of the Year Award, Anderson is well respected by his peers and colleagues. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and was also the recipient of the Jack Bennett Man of the Year Award presented by CollegeInsider.com, during the team’s historic 2011-12 campaign. The award represents “winning with integrity” and is presented annually to a non-Division I Head Coach who achieves success on the basketball court while displaying great moral integrity off the court.
Anderson arrived at MIT via Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss., where he graduated in 1987. After serving as team captain during his junior and senior years, Anderson remained at his alma mater as an assistant coach before eventually assuming additional roles as the Associate Director of Athletics and Director of Student Activities.
“These 30 years have been Heaven on Earth for me, my wife Dawn, and my kids Paul and Skyy, said Anderson. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this better than one could ever hope for.”
A search for Anderson’s successor will begin this summer.
