Ole Miss Coaches Corner: Barney Farrar
Barney Farrar is just one of those guys on a coaching staff that has done everything.
He has coached positions on both sides of the ball, he has been a recruiter and an administrator, he has coached at Clemson, Rice, USM and (now on his second stint) at Ole Miss; but no matter where he is employed, he is always one of the most popular coaches to his players and other staff members.
Farrar is originally from Newton County, MS and played football at Northeast MS Junior College and Delta State University, leading DSU to a two year record of 12-8 in 1981-1982 and was a team captain his senior season as a defensive back.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State before taking a similar position at Clemson and continuing his career.
As a veteran in the business, he has served many roles and functions. While he has certainly been successful (you have to be to stay in the coaching business this long) his greatest value may be his ability to connect with people.
This serves him well in coaching young players in getting their trust as well as on the recruiting trail. Currently Farrar serves as the assistant athletic director of High School and Junior College Relations. Essentially that is an administrative role working with High School and Junior College programs but he is certainly willing and able to recruit players as well.
As reported by John Talty of the Clarion-Ledger, Farrar was approved to recruit in the place of offensive coordinator Dan Werner this last recruiting cycle, as Coach Werner is needed at home with a special needs child.
This ability to connect to people allowed him to reign in at least five players he recruited for the class of 2014; Tee Shepard, CB, Holmes CC; East MS, LB, Christian Russell; Northeast MS ATH Jeremy Liggins; Florence AL, QB Kendrick Doss and University Christian (FL), DE, Marquis Haynes.
However, you will rarely hear his name. Coach Farrar does not like to take the spotlight but is highly valued by Head Coach Hugh Freeze.
When Freeze took the job at Ole Miss he quickly brought Farrar back to Ole Miss as they were both on Orgeron’s staff together. Farrar has a quick wit and fits in well with this close knit group of coaches.
During the whirlwind recruiting day of the 2013 class, Coach Farrar had a big gag pulled on him (for a change) centered around recruit Tony Conner. As a star corner back from nearby Batesville, MS, Conner had many other offers for his talents. In fact, defending national champ Alabama was nipping at his heels and the Ole Miss coaching staff worked hard to keep him committed.
On signing day, as the signatures were pilling up, Freeze asks if there were any last minute issues, Farrar unequivocally stated, “Solid as they get. Like 24 karat gold.”
Shortly thereafter, Farrar looks at his phone and with a ghostly gaze reads a text forwarded to him from Coach Freeze presumably from Tony Conner, “I love you coach. But I can’t do it. Tell Barney.”
Freeze was floored. The room turned quiet. That’s when running back’s coach Derrick Nix burst out laughing having turned the tables on the normal prankster Farrar for once. Actually, as the story goes, Tony Conner came up with the idea and Nix helped see it through.
Bruce Feldman from ESPN and author of MEAT MARKET, wrote that during the 2006 season, he and Barney used to ride together from Oxford to Tupelo on Friday nights where the team stays the night before games.
"Feldman says of Coach Farrar on his ESPN blog, “He is one of the sweetest, most likeable people in the business and a true original. I can’t say I’ve ever met another person like Barney Farrar. He’s one guy stories never do justice to. After being around Barney a while, I came to think there is not a guy walking the sidelines who loved being a coach more than him.”"
Rebel fans should be proud to have Barney Farrar on staff and it seems to make life a lot more fun for the players and staff.
Ole Miss Ink