| L. C. Cole | |
| Current Title: | Defensive coordinator |
| Current Team: | Clark Atlanta |
| Current Conference: | SIAC |
| Birth Date: | 3 January 1956 |
| Birth Place: | Springfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1978–1979 |
| Player Team1: | Nebraska |
| Player Positions: | Defensive end |
| Coach Years1: | 1984–1985 |
| Coach Team1: | Ball State (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 1986–1987 |
| Coach Team2: | Kansas State (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1988–1989 |
| Coach Team3: | Wisconsin (OLB) |
| Coach Years4: | 1990 |
| Coach Team4: | Toledo (RB) |
| Coach Years5: | 1991–1992 |
| Coach Team5: | Morgan State (DC) |
| Coach Years6: | 1993 |
| Coach Team6: | Eastern Michigan (assistant) |
| Coach Years7: | 1994–1995 |
| Coach Team7: | Cincinnati (RB) |
| Coach Years8: | 1996–1999 |
| Coach Team8: | Tennessee State |
| Coach Years9: | 2000–2002 |
| Coach Team9: | Alabama State |
| Coach Years10: | 2006–2007 |
| Coach Team10: | Sidney Lanier HS (AL) |
| Coach Years11: | 2008 |
| Coach Team11: | Texas Southern (DC) |
| Coach Years12: | 2009–2010 |
| Coach Team12: | Stillman |
| Coach Years13: | 2011 |
| Coach Team13: | Concordia (AL) (DC) |
| Coach Years14: | 2012–2013 |
| Coach Team14: | Wilcox Central HS (AL) |
| Coach Years15: | 2014 |
| Coach Team15: | Central HS (AL) (DC) |
| Coach Years16: | 2015–2016 |
| Coach Team16: | Fairfield HS (AL) |
| Coach Years17: | 2018–2019 |
| Coach Team17: | Loachapoka HS (AL) |
| Coach Years18: | 2020–2021 |
| Coach Team18: | Park Crossing HS (AL) |
| Coach Years19: | 2022–2023 |
| Coach Team19: | Allen (AHC/DC/ST) |
| Coach Years20: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team20: | Clark Atlanta (DC) |
| Overall Record: | 41–48 (college; 14 wins vacated) 42–67 (high school) |
| Tournament Record: | 0–2 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Championships: | 2 OVC (1998–1999) |
| Awards: | 2× OVC Coach of the Year (1998–1999) |
Lawrence "L. C." Cole (born January 3, 1956) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the defensive coordinator for Clark Atlanta University, a position he has held since 2024.[1] He was the 18th head football coach at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee and he held that position for four seasons, from 1996 until 1999. His career coaching record at Tennessee State was 28–18.[2]
After a successful, but controversial, stint as head coach at Alabama State University, Cole revived the storied football program at Montgomery, Alabama's Sidney Lanier High School; during Cole's two years at Lanier, the Poets won the City Championship each year, and they never lost to a city opponent. Lanier reached the state playoffs each year, making it to the quarterfinals in 2006. On December 3, 2008, Cole was announced as Stillman College's third head coach since the reinstatement of the program in 1999 in replacing Greg Thompson.[3] Following the 2010 season, Cole was fired as head coach, and replaced with Stillman alumnus Teddy Keaton.[4]
Lawrence Cole has a wife, Mitzi Ann Parker Cole, and a son, Clay Cole. His wife was born in Madison, Wisconsin. His son is from Nashville, Tennessee. His parents are Ruby Cole and Timothy Cole. He was the fourth of nine brothers.
Cole went to the University of Nebraska 1975-1979 and coached there through 1982 under Tom Osborne.