Team Loses State Tourney Game, Coach Cited For DUI Hours Later

Lincoln Southeast High School coach John Larsen was cited on suspicion of driving under the influence Thursday evening, police say.

The citation came hours after his team lost to Millard West 45-32 in the first round of the girls state basketball tournament.

Larsen, also Southeast's football coach and a physical education teacher at the school, apparently was involved in an accident just after 5:30 p.m. near 46th Street and Duxhall Drive, less than a mile from his house.

A record of the crash wasn't available Friday evening, but police said Larsen, 60, also was ticketed on suspicion of negligent driving. The DUI citation, his second, is listed as an aggravated offense, meaning a test found his blood-alcohol content was higher than 0.15 percent.

Larsen and his wife own the Press Box sports bar and restaurant at 5601 S. 56th St. The restaurant opened in November.

Hobert Rupe, executive director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, said the commission would wait to see if Larsen is convicted before making a decision on the business's license.

Contacted Friday evening, Larsen declined to comment.

With him as coach, Southeast girls teams have won the Class A title nine times, the most recent in 2008. His career record in 31 years of coaching girls basketball is 560-169.

Larsen has been Southeast's head football coach since 2007. The Knights went 10-2 last fall, losing to Millard South in the Class A semifinals.

A phone message left for Southeast Principal Pat Hunter-Pirtle wasn't returned Friday evening.