SIT DOWN WITH STEVE: Astronaut Basketball Coach Larry Gilreath Leaving Incredible Legacy

By  //  May 3, 2021

MOVED TO BREVARD COUNTY 50 YEARS AGO

WATCH: Coach Larry Gilreath talks with Steve Wilson in the latest edition of “Sit Down with Steve.” Gilreath, originally from Tennessee, has been a basketball coach in Brevard County at the junior high school, high school and college level. The long-time educator was head coach at Titusville High School for 15 years and is currently an assistant coach with the Astronaut War Eagles. His son Kyle is the head coach of the War Eagles. Gilreath talks with Wilson about his time in Tennessee, his love of coaching basketball and much more in this exclusive interview.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Larry Gilreath is a mainstay in Brevard County. The young man that moved to Titusville, Florida, in 1970 after graduating from East Tennessee State has made his mark and continues to make his mark. He has done so by working with young people on the Space Coast as an educator and a basketball coach.

When you try to think of individuals that have made a greater impact on the youth of Brevard County, it is hard to find someone higher on the list than Gilreath.

He began his coaching career in the early 1970s at Parkway Junior High School in Titusville coaching football and track. After a couple of years, the basketball job came open. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Gilreath led Parkway to the Brevard County Championship in 1974. In 1977, his good friend, the late Kirk Stewart, asked him to join him on the staff at Titusville High School.

The following year when Coach Stewart took a position at, what is now, Eastern Florida State College, Gilreath was elevated to the head varsity basketball coach of the Terriers.

Larry Gilreath, left, is now an assistant coach with the Astronaut War Eagles varsity team and his head coach is his youngest son Kyle, at right.

After a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Eastern Florida with Coach Stewart, Gilreath returned to the high school ranks and was the Titusville Terriers’ head coach for 15 years.

Gilreath is now an assistant coach with the Astronaut War Eagles varsity team and his head coach is his youngest son Kyle.

Larry Gilreath beams when he talks about how much fun it is to coach with his son. He uses the word “blessing” when he describes how it feels to coach with his son.

During the season, Kyle calls his dad every morning to talk about practice and the upcoming games.

When talking about why he continues to coach, Gilreath says, “I just love it. I have a passion. I just love helping kids. I just love coaching kids.”

Larry Gilreath is one of the most caring people you will ever meet. He loves working with young people, he loves his family and he loves his city. He’s leaving a legacy that will be hard to match – and he’s not done yet!

Larry Gilreath beams when he talks about how much fun it is to coach the Astronaut War Eagle basketball team with his youngest son Kyle. During the season, Kyle calls his dad every morning to talk about practice and the upcoming games.
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