Ceremonies to dedicate the Jefferson softball field and rename it in honor of legendary coach Larry Niemeyer will be held May 28. The  ceremony will be held at approximately 7:15 p.m., between the Jefferson-Waterloo West games. The special program will include comments by Cedar Rapids Community School District Superintendent Dr. Dave Benson, the presentation of a naming plaque, and the unveiling of the Larry Niemeyer Field sign by Niemeyer and his family.

Superintendent Benson approved the request by the Jefferson High School Booster Club and administration to name the field in honor of Niemeyer last fall noting, “Mr. Niemeyer’s 53-year career in education, including numerous coaching recognitions, is worthy of such a significant recognition.”

Niemeyer led Jefferson High School to 19 state softball tournaments and three state championships. His total of 2,089 softball victories stands as the most by any high school coach in the nation. “This illustrious and legendary career deserves recognition,” reads the Jefferson Booster Club request.

“We believe placing Larry Niemeyer’s name on the field at the Jefferson Softball Complex, where it can stand as a permanent reminder of his contributions to Jefferson High School and the Cedar Rapids Community School District, is a worthy mark of our appreciation” said Mark Fiala, Booster Club President.

Niemeyer retired from the classroom in 2011. He continued to coach the J-Hawk softball team through the 2012 season. In total he coached for 25 years at Jefferson.

In addition to his national record softball victories, Coach Niemeyer’s basketball teams won 871 games. He was named 1989 National High School Softball Coach of the Year and 1990 State Softball Coach of the Year. In 2004, and again in 2010, the National Federation of State High Schools honored him as the National Softball Coach of the Year.

Niemeyer was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2002 as awarded by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

Niemeyer is the only coach in the history of Iowa girls’ athletics to win a state championship in four different sports – basketball, softball, cross country and indoor track.

Niemeyer recently resigned as head coach at Waterloo West because of health reasons.