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Laszlo Jurak, long time coach of NYAC, on the sidelines at the U.S. National Championships. (Photo courtesy of Clarke Ortega)

Sometimes the word legend is casually thrown around to describe someone who’s been around the sport for several years.  With Laszlo Jurak there’s no need to exaggerate, as he has been involved with the sport in the U.S. for over 50 years.  In Reno, this past May I sat down with the legend shortly after NYAC won yet another national title.

Topics include his leaving Hungary for the U.S. after the 1956 uprising, his playing for the U.S. National Team at the 1963 outdoor world championships and at the 1970 indoor world championships (also as coach), his assessment as to when club handball was strongest in the U.S. (and why), his disappointment that the U.S. hasn’t progressed further, and where he falls on the dividing line between grass roots and national team funding.  (Interview is approximately 23 minutes)

THN (8 Aug 2012):  Audio: 1972 Olympians reflect on the Munich games and more:  Link