The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn that Larry Kristoff, a Distinguished Member inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007, passed away on Saturday, at the age of 83. 

“On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and staff, I want to extend our heartfelt sympathies to Larry’s family, friends and the many wrestlers whose lives he touched,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “Larry embodied the very best of our sport. He was a fierce competitor for Team USA, a respected leader on international teams and a coach whose influence extended far beyond the wrestling mat. 

“Whether representing our country in international competition or developing young athletes at Carbondale Community High School and SIU Edwardsville, Larry dedicated his life to wrestling and helping others succeed,” he added. “His legacy will live on through the generations of wrestlers and coaches he inspired, mentored and helped along the way.” 

The family has announced arrangement to include a memorial service Dec. 4 at Hileman and Rendleman Funeral Home, 301 West Spring Street, Anna, Illinois 62906 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a post-service gathering from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Giant City Lodge. Kristoff will be laid to rest at Zion Cemetery in Carbondale. 

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. 

While he was still competing internationally he began his coaching career 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 was honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.