Larry Carpenter was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, and wrestled on the first wrestling team at West Lincoln High School. After graduating in 1969, he attended North Carolina State University, wrestled for the Wolfpack, and graduated in 1973 with a degree in Vocational Education. After working in the private sector for one year, Carpenter joined the teaching ranks in 1975 at East Lincoln High School, where he served as the head wrestling coach and cross-country coach for five years. In 1980, Carpenter moved to Saint Stephens High School in Hickory, where he taught drafting and coached wrestling, cross country, and track until 1992. In the 2004-05 season, Carpenter returned to head coaching duties at Saint Stephens when Coach Billy Baker was called back into the Army during the Iraq War. Carpenter’s wrestling teams amassed a dual record of 137-52-3, won seven conference championships, and produced 52 state qualifiers and 11 state medalists. Retiring from education in 2002, Carpenter and his wife, Lori, currently reside in Wilmington, NC.