Larry Powell began his wrestling career at the New Mexico School of the Visually Handicapped in 1959. The following two years, Powell lived in Lake Fenton, Michigan, where no wrestling programs existed. Despite this, Powell's interest in the sport flourished as he learned wrestling from books and workouts at Flint Southwestern. He then used his knowledge of wrestling to teach and coach his classmates in summer tournaments. Powell spent the last two years of his high school career at the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing, where he was conference champion and placed in the State tournament both years. He spent an additional two years wrestling at Central Michigan University before starting a life-long career of coaching and volunteering for wrestling programs across the state of Michigan. In 1969, Powell served as an assistant wrestling coach for Central Michigan University, where he coached four eventual All-Americans and one Olympian. For a number of years Powell also worked at Mt. Pleasant Schools as an assistant coach to Rod Rapp, where he contributed to 3 State Championships and 5 undefeated dual-meet seasons. Powell was also an assistant coach for wrestling programs at Mason High School and Dansville High School. Powell spent nearly 20 years as a volunteer for wrestling programs at St.Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland, and both Eaton Rapids High School and Holt High School in Michigan. He has conducted free workshops for high school wrestler across the state of Michigan and continues to sponsor students at wrestling camps and workshops and give free lessons to wrestlers of all ages.