NEW CONCORD — Larry Shank is one of the good guys in the world of college athletics. Make that one of the best guys.

The St. Clairsville High graduate has been immersed in college sports for most of his adult life – 48 years to be exact. During those five decades, Shank has experienced a great deal of success as a coach.

But all that winning pales into comparison to what he relishes the most — people. Shank embraces the countless relationships he has made along the way and still maintains today.

Shank is currently the athletic director at Muskingum University. It will be the final stop in his wide-ranging and success-filled career. He recently announced he will officially retire at the end of the current academic year. His last day with the university will be June 30.

Shank’s resume is long and impressive. He has been a head high school football coach, assistant college coach, head college football coach, head college wrestling coach and a college athletic director.

Every stop has been punctuated by success while forging lifelong relationships.

Shank admits that he loves the Muskingum community and going to work everyday.

So why retire now?

“The time is just right. I have been doing this for 48 years and I turn 70 this coming April,” Shank said. “They always say you will know when it will be time to retire. I didn’t believe it, but you do.

“I love everything about my career in athletics — the student/athletes, the competition, my former players and my assistant coaches,” he added. “I was fortunate because my wife bought into my job. It is just the right time.”

Shank cut his coaching teeth when he student-taught at a high school in Maryland. After receiving his collegiate degree in 1970, he landed at Woodsfield High where he assisted Jay Circosta with the baseball program.

It was a relationship that took deep and lasting roots. Circosta, who has become a football coaching legend, served as Shank’s best man and is also godfather to one of Shank’s children.

Shank’s next stop was across Monroe County at Beallsville High. He was the Blue Devils’ head baseball coach and assisted Flip DeLongo for two years in football. Shank became the head grid coach in year three, and it proved a springboard to his long and impressive collegiate career.

Shank secured a graduate assistant’s job at Western Michigan. He also earned his master’s degree during his one-year stop in Kalamazoo.

His time in Michigan paid dividends. Shank accepted a football assistant’s post at Capital in suburban Columbus. He served on Coach Gene Slaughter’s staff for eight years.

His Capital Crusaders’ duty served him well.

Shank left Bexley to become head football coach at West Liberty. He served as Hilltoppers’ head football coach from 1982-1989.

The 1966 St. Clairsville High grad left the hilltop for Heidelberg University, where he enjoyed great success while wearing many hats. He served as associate athletic director, department chair, head football and wrestling coach at the northwestern Ohio school.

He guided Heidelberg’s matmen to 104 wins, most in school history, and was named OAC Wrestling Coach of the Year on three occasions. Shank currently ranks 45th all-time in Division III wrestling with a 194 career wins.

Shank opted to move back closer to his roots in 2001, becoming Muskingum’s athletic director in 2001.

“I have been associated with great people and learned a lot from great people. I respect Coach (Gene) Slaughter at Capital more than any other man than my father. He was a special man,” Shank said. “I cherish the relations I built along the way. My friendship with Jay Circosta is at the top of the list. He was the best man and godfather for one of my kids. Also, athletics helped me build a great relationship with Terry Bowden current head coach and son of legendary Bobby Bowden.”

While Shank built relationships and friendships along way, he downplays a remarkable resume of coaching success. He does, however, point out one landmark stat, that being producing 23 All-American wrestlers at Heidelberg in 10 years.

Other than that it is all about people.

“I don’t think about the wins and losses but rather the camaraderie and relationships that go with athletics. They have been outstanding in my career,” Shank said. “I love looking on Facebook for the sole reason of checking on how my former players and coaches and their children are doing.

“So if I had a little thing to do with them becoming good men and good fathers, I get a great deal of satisfaction from that.”

Shank is a member of the NCAA Division III Infractions Appeals Committee. The NCAA panel is comprised of just five individuals. That quintet hears and acts upon appeals of the findings of major violations by the Committee on Infractions, involving member institutions.

Shank is the immediate past president of the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Muskingum has enjoyed extensive growth under Shank’s leadership. He has also been a major player in raising funds in the university’s quest to upgrade athletic facilities. Under Shank’s watch, Muskingum has experienced a multi-million dollar upgrade in the realm of athletics.

“My first encounter with Coach Shank was as an undergrad at West Liberty State College. He was very respected by my peers and the students as the head football coach. He was the faculty supervisor during my student teaching placement and experience at St. Clairsville High School,” said St. Clairsville High Athletic Director Kelly Rine. “He treated me very well and I remained in contact with him after he left the hilltop and ended up at Heidelberg College. Additionally, when he became the athletic director at Muskingum, some of us attended the golf outing he put on in Zanesville.

“Finally, as a 1966 Red Devil alum and former football stalwart, we recognized him in 2010 as an Honorary Football Captain at a varsity home game,” he added. “His entire career in educational athletics has been one of distinction and he is a very fine gentleman.”

Shank is married to the former Barbara Meyer. They have two grown children: Gretchen, a physical therapist in Chicago, and Chris, an assistant on the Muskingum football staff.

What does he have on his retirement menu?

“My wife and I will stay here in New Concord. It is a great community,” he said. “I will spend time with the family, play some golf and find some others to keep me busy. I am just amazed on how many people have reached out to me upon my retirement.”

BUBBA’S BITS

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ANYONE WHO doesn’t think college football isn’t big business should think again. USA Today released the top salaries of college head coaches recently. Alabama’s Nick Saban rightfully leads the way, making $11 million a year. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is second at $8.5 million a year followed by Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh at $7M. Ohio State’s Urban Meyer is fourth at $6.4 million while former WVU head coach and current Arizona Wildcat boss Rich Rodriguez round out the top five at $5.6 million.

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THE WORLD Series was riveting until Game 7 when the Astros removed all drama by jumping out to a 5-0 and never being threatened. Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts will be kicking himself all off-season for micro-managing his pitching staff in the Series. Meanwhile, John Smoltz is the gold standard for color commentators.

THE CLEVELAND Cavaliers are playing much like the Browns these days, losing to bottom-feeders by lopsided margins.

KUDOS TO the Wheeling Park boys’ soccer team on a great post-season run. Finishing as Class AAA state runnerup is a noteworthy achievement by the Patriots.