One of America's all-time great heavyweight wrestlers, Larry Kristoff threw his weight around in the coaching arena as well.

For eight straight years, Kristoff represented the United States in top international competition with dominant performances in freestyle wrestling. From 1964 through 1971, he won five World medals for the United States, winning silvers in 1966, 1969 and 1970, and bronzes in 1965 and 1967. He placed seventh at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, and was fifth at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.

Kristoff won a total of 12 senior national titles, including nine in freestyle and three in Greco-Roman. Among his other achievements was a gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games. As a collegian, he won two NCAA Division II national championships competing for Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and was second in the Division I championship in 1963. He compiled an impressive overall career record of 313-13.

His coaching career began while he was still competing internationally, at Carbondale Community High School where he compiled a two-year record of 28-4. Two years later, his head coaching career began in earnest, when he took over at Division II powerhouse Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Kristoff led the Cougars to three consecutive NCAA titles from 1984-86 and coached the team to top 10 finishes 18 times. He coached 12 wrestlers to a total of 18 NCAA Division II national titles, and when Division II wrestlers could still compete in the Division I tournament, 11 of his athletes earned All-American honors at that level. In all, SIU-Edwardsville wrestlers were Division II All-Americans 111 times during his tenure, including both of his sons, Kip and Mark, who were four-time All-Americans and national champions. Kristoff was honored as NCAA Coach of the Year in 1974 and 1985.

Kristoff also coached U.S. teams on the international level many times, including serving as head coach of the 1975 and 1976 World Cup teams and as a member of the U.S. World team staff numerous times. He also helped prepare the Illinois junior national team for many years.

Kristoff retired from 30 years of coaching in 1999.

For his weighty accomplishments in the sport of wrestling, Larry Kristoff is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.