VMI head
football coach Sparky Woods has named Jeff Farrington to the position of
defensive coordinator, as released Feb. 17. Farrington also takes over responsibilities for the Keydet secondary.
Farrington comes to
VMI from Mercer University where he spent the past year as an assistant
coach under Bobby Lamb helping the Bears launch an FCS football program
that is scheduled to begin play in 2013.
Prior to his stint
at Mercer, Farrington had spent the previous nine seasons at (2002-2010)
as a defensive assistant coach under Lamb at Furman University and also
served as the Paladin defensive coordinator in 2010. Furman defensive
units under Farrington ranked highly in the Southern Conference
statistical listings on numerous occasions and helped advance the
Paladins into the NCAA FCS (I-AA) playoffs four times (2002, 2004, 2005,
and 2006). In 2005, Furman reached the national semi-final game.
Farrington also had
Southern Conference ties at East Tennessee State University where he was
the defensive coordinator and secondary coach for five seasons
(1997-2001), and three of his Buccaneer defensive backs signed NFL
contracts. Prior to his stint at ETSU, Farrington was the defensive
coordinator and secondary coach at West Georgia College from 1992
through 1996 and had defenses that attained national rankings in
Division II.
A 1982 graduate of
The Citadel where he lettered twice as a defensive back, Farrington
began work in the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at his alma
mater (1982), and later at East Carolina (1983) and Florida State
(1984). He was named outside linebackers coach at East Carolina in 1985.
He later became defensive coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne College (1987-90)
and Presbyterian College (1991).
Farrington earned
his Bachelor of Science degree from The Citadel in physical education in
1982. He is a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and he and his wife Traci,
have a daughter Sydney (16) and son Bobby (15.)
"We are excited
about adding Jeff Farrington to our staff, said Woods. "He brings a
wealth of experience from the east coast. He has coordinated in the
Southern Conference and is very familiar with the teams we play. Being a
graduate from the Citadel also makes him familiar with the day to day
lifestyle that our players experience. He is a player's coach that will
cause him to match perfectly with our present staff. He, Traci,
Sydney, and Bobby will build on the family values of our team."
"My family and I are
very honored and grateful to be a part of the VMI football family,"
said Farrington. "I have the utmost respect for Coach Sparky Woods as a
person and football coach in the profession, am I am excited to serve
VMI as a member of the excellent staff and program being built by Coach
Woods."
