Morgan State University Newsroom Morgan State University
BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 9, 2016) – Morgan State University has removed the interim tag and Fred T. Farrier will assume the full-time position as Morgan State’s head football coach, announced Friday by Director of Athletics Edward Scott.
Farrier, a native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, becomes the 14th head football coach in MSU history.
“In my assessment of the football program it became clear to me that Coach Farrier is committed to the values of Morgan State University and the athletics department,” said Scott. Fred has shown a true commitment to the overall student-athlete experience and he provides much needed stability for our program moving forward.”
“I am confident that under Coach Farrier’s leadership our young men will make us all proud, in the classroom, community and on the field.”
Since taking over as interim coach in February, Farrier has guided the Bears to a 3-8 overall record and a 3-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference mark. The Bears completed the season with four student-athletes recognized to the All-MEAC Team and 15 selected to the MEAC’s All-Academic Team.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the permanent head football coach at Morgan State University,” said Farrier. “I want to thank my family, Danita, India and Fred II for their love, support and understanding.”
“I want to thank Dr. David Wilson [President], Dr. Kevin Banks [V.P. of Student Affairs] and Edward Scott for their support and trust and the opportunity to return this program to greatness. Our goal is to create men that are prepared for life and graduate with a degree from Morgan State University. Our goal is to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and to play in the Air Force Reserves Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. There is a lot of work to do and I am confident we can accomplish our goals.”
“Morgan State football has a bright future and I am excited to be a part of it to contribute to the legacy of those that have come before me and those that will continue to walk this beautiful campus long after my time here is completed.”
Farrier originally joined the Bears in 2014 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He oversaw the development of quarterback Moses Skillon, who was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s No. 5 leading passer in 2015.
Under Farrier’s watch, Skillon completed 50.5 percent of his passes for 1,616 yards and 7 touchdowns and rushed for 420 yards and five scores in 2015. In 2014, Skillon passed for 1,392 and 11 touchdowns and led the Bears to its first MEAC championship in 35 years and its first ever FCS playoff appearance.
Farrier, a 17-year veteran of college football coaching ranks, joined the Bears after spending a pair of seasons as the passing game coordinator at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Farrier served four seasons as the head coach of Kentucky State (2005-09), where he coached the Thoroughbreds to an average of over 30 points and 375 yards per game.
Prior to that, he was the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Shaw University in 2004, where he led the Bears to a CIAA championship and Pioneer Bowl.
Farrier also served as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Tennessee Tech from 2001-03. Farrier broke into coaching at Michigan State University where he served two seasons (1998-99) as a graduate assistant coach under head coach Nick Saban, now head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Farrier was an all-conference athlete in football and basketball during his prep career at Cleveland Heights High School, and played wide receiver at the College of the Holy Cross. Farrier also played basketball for two seasons and received his bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting in 1994, and earned his master’s degree from Tennessee Tech in 2004.
Farrier, 44, and his wife, Danita, have a son, Fred II, and daughter, India.
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified Doctoral Research Institution offering more than 70 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. As Maryland’s premier public urban research university, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. More information about the university is available at www.morgan.edu.
