Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012, Larkin spent his entire 19-year career as the shortstop of the Cincinnati Reds and is considered one of the best players of his generation. Larkin enrolled at University of Michigan on a football scholarship, but decided to pursue baseball exclusively after his freshman year.

Following his retirement from the Reds, Larkin returned to campus to complete the Bachelor’s in Communications he began as a student-athlete – both of his parents and his siblings completed a higher education as well.

Larkin started Champions Sports Foundation in the early 2000’s, which was a premier safe haven for the youth of America and their development. He later developed the Champions Sports Complex to harness the power of sport and used it to successfully develop the youth in America by targeting their social, emotional and educational needs.

Since his retirement Larkin has also been in the public eye as a broadcaster or analyst on television networks, namely ESPN and MLB Network, and has also worked in the Washington Nationals front office. His son, Shane Larkin, currently plays in the National Basketball Association for the Brooklyn Nets.