Larry McCoy, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, was a graduate of Tuscaloosa High School and the University of Alabama. He was on the 1957 Crimson Tide team the last year before Paul "Bear" Bryant took over as coach.

McCoy started his coaching career in 1961 at Tuscaloosa High School as an assistant coach. He moved to Dothan High School in 1962, where he was an assistant football coach. McCoy came to Athens in 1963 and became head football coach and athletic director of the Golden Eagles in 1966.

He remained with the Athens program for ten seasons where he compiled a 70-32-3 record, a state championship in 1975, and the only undefeated regular season in school history in 1972. His track team won a state title in 1973. His track and field teams won a total of three state titles during his tenure.

In 1975, McCoy and his Golden Eagles beat highly regarded Andalusia 35-15 for the schools first playoff State Championship. That game was played before a packed house at Athens Stadium. The 1975 Golden Eagles finished the year with a 12-1-1 record.

It would be McCoys final season in Athens. He accepted the head coaching job and athletic directors position at Huntsville High School a year later. His only team at Huntsville went 4-6.

He began as a high school classroom teacher and football coach. He moved into postsecondary administration and retired as president emeritus of Northwest-Shoals Community College. He also served as chairman of the Alabama-Mississippi High School All-Star game committee, a concept he helped initiate.

McCoy was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Limestone County Hall of Fame and the Tuscaloosa High School Sports Hall of Fame.