Furman Football Announces Staff Changes
Dec. 17, 2009
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman head football coach Bobby Lamb today announced several changes to the Paladins' defensive coaching staff.
According to Lamb, assistant coach Jeff Farrington has been elevated to the role of defensive coordinator, and assistant coaches Steve Wilson and Roberto Pinilla will not be returning for the 2010 season.
"We need new direction on defense, and I'm confident Jeff can help give us that going forward," said Lamb in making the announcement on Thursday. "Steve and Roberto were certainly loyal members of our program -- in Steve's case, over many years -- and I appreciate their dedication and hard work on behalf of Furman football and wish them the very best."
Lamb indicated the two defensive coaching vacancies will be filled by Feb. 1.
Farrington, who joined the Furman staff in 2002 as defensive backs coach, assumed the role of co-defensive coordinator (along with Wilson) in 2006 while continuing to direct the squad's safeties. He is a Greer native and 1982 graduate of The Citadel, where he lettered twice as a defensive back.
Wilson's Furman's coaching tenure spanned 21 years and two terms (1986-98, 2002-09), including 14 seasons as defensive coordinator. A 1977 Furman graduate, he directed the squad's linebackers, including six All-Americans and 25 All-Southern Conference selections. Among the most notable were Jeff Blankenship (1988), who helped Furman pace the nation in scoring defense (9.7 ppg) en route to the 1988 NCAA I-AA (FCS) national championship, Orlando Ruff (1998), who went on to a seven-year career in the NFL, and 2004 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year William Freeman.
Pinilla joined the Paladin staff in 2006 as coach of the defensive line, which he directed for the last four seasons.
Furman posted a 6-5 record in 2009, including a 5-3 Southern Conference mark.