Other Duties: Video operations liaison
Recruits: East Houston and Beaumont.
Coaching Experience: Through two seasons at NSU, Farrell has far-reaching impact on the Demons. On offense, he assisted in the growth of TE Justin Aldredge into one of the offense’s biggest weapons. Aldredge finished 2010 third on the team in receptions and first in TD receptions, earning All-Southland Conference second team honors. Last year, Farrell also helped newcomer TEs Jake Bryan and Tucker Nims to contribute to the offense. In 2009, Farrell was instrumental in the conversion of Aldredge from safety to TE, where he received honorable mention All-Southland honors and was the third leading receiver on the team.
On special teams, Farrell oversaw the dramatic improvement of both of the Wild Demon specialists in 2010. Punter Bradley Russo jumped from a 2009 average of 36.3 yards (83rd nationally) to 41.0 (18th nationally), while kicker John Shaughnessy improved from converting 66.7 percent of FG/PAT’s in 2009 to 84.8 percent in 2010. Russo’s rise led to the punt team’s overall improvement, raising its net punt average 23 spots in the national rankings. NSU was also ranked 33rd nationally in punt return defense (6.8 avg.). In Southland Conference games, the team only allowed 15 returns for 54 yards (3.6 avg.). In addition, this unit caused and recovered two fumbles in 2010. Under Farrell, a kickoff coverage unit that improved 62 places nationally in kickoff coverage defense (19.8 avg.) in 2009, also continued improvement. In 2010, the Demons led the SLC and ranked 38th nationally (climbing 14 spots) allowing 19.6 yards per return. In Southland Conference games the kickoff unit only allowed 17.1 yards per return, with just one return over 32 yards. Over the past two seasons, under Farrell, the Demons have blocked seven kicks (Punt/PAT/FG), including a crucial blocked punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a road win over Texas State last fall. In 2009, he also contributed to the growth of true freshman returner Bradley Brown into an honorable mention All-Southland performer.
Farrell has worked alongside Bradley Dale Peveto for six seasons, two at NSU, three at LSU, and beginning in 2004 at Middle Tennessee State. A year after Peveto, defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee, joined Les Miles’ staff at LSU in 2005, Farrell followed as a quality control staffer for tight ends and special teams. Peveto was in charge of the Tigers’ special teams in 2005-07 and Farrell assisted in all game planning, practice planning, and scouting of opponents special teams.
He contributed to the development of first-team All-Southeastern Conference specialists Colt David (kicker) and Patrick Fisher (punter), along with kick returners Trindon Holliday and Craig Davis. Farrell also worked with the Tigers offense during his time at LSU. Farrell helped LSU win the 2007 BCS National Championship with an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game. The Tigers also won the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in 2008.
Farrell entered college coaching at Wayne State from 2002-04 (running backs coach, special teams coordinator). He helped develop Craig Duppong, who was a two-time Division II All-American who averaged 171 all-purpose ypg. His special teams blocked 11 punts and field goals in two seasons and averaged 12 yards on punt returns. He moved to Middle Tennessee State, working alongside Peveto as the defensive video graduate assistant for the 2004 season, helping Peveto coach the linebackers and assisting with special teams, with his kickoff coverage team ranking third nationally allowing only 15.8 yards per return.
When Peveto moved to LSU, Farrell shifted roles as a defensive graduate assistant in February 2005, working as assistant defensive line coach for that season and helping develop Sun Belt Conference defensive MVP Jeff Littlejohn.
Playing Experience: Farrell played linebacker and safety at Notre Dame from 1996-99, making the trip south to Shreveport for the 1997 Independence Bowl game vs. LSU and to Jacksonville for the 1999 Gator Bowl. He lettered for the Fighting Irish in his senior season, 1999, when he was a commended student-athlete and was recognized by the Faculty Board of Athletics.
Personal: Age 33, born 4/8/78 in Fairport, N.Y. He is the son of Timothy and Peggy Farrell, who now live in Charlotte, N.C., and has an older sister, Colleen Colby. Farrell graduated with an English and history double major from Notre Dame in 2000 with a 3.02 grade point average. He earned a master’s degree in sport administration in 2004 while coaching at Wayne State. Farrell enjoys reading classic literature and says James Joyce is his favorite author.
