SFA Names Robert McFarland as Head Football Coach
Dec. 13, 2004
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -
Stephen F. Austin State University athletics director Steve McCarty announced today that Robert McFarland has been named head coach of the Lumberjack football program. McFarland becomes the school¹s 17th head football coach and will take over the program immediately.
"It gives me great pleasure to introduce Robert McFarland as the next
head football coach at Stephen F. Austin. I believe Coach McFarland
possesses all the qualities we are looking for in a new head coach and will
do an outstanding job in leading the Lumberjack football program to greater
heights. Robert has close ties to SFA and his ties to Texas high school
football have remained strong," said McCarty.
McFarland comes to SFA after spending the past season at East Carolina
University as the offensive line coach. Prior to that he spent four seasons
as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at the University of
Central Florida. During his stay at Central Florida, McFarland¹s offensive
unit was ranked 11th in the nation in total offense and sixth in the nation
in pass offense in 2002. The Knights averaged over 436 yards of offense and
32 points per game in 2002.
His offensive unit produced two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard
rusher in 2002, only the eighth time in NCAA history a team has accomplished
that feat.
Central Florida finished ninth in the nation among I-A teams in passing
offense in 2001 and was 12th in the nation in passing offense in 2000.
During his stay in Orlando, McFarland coached six student-athletes that went
on to the NFL.
A former Lumberjack assistant coach, McFarland was the offensive line
coach at SFA from 1991 through the 1999 season. During his earlier stint
with the 'Jacks, SFA claimed two NCAA playoff appearances and a Southland
title in 1999. The 'Jacks advanced to the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs in
1995. SFA led the league in rushing offense four times with McFarland¹s
offensive line leading the way. SFA also set single season records for
rushing yards (2,913 yards - 1993) and rushing touchdowns (30 - 1999) while
McFarland was a Lumberjack assistant. Four of his former offensive linemen
also went on to NFL camps.
Prior to coming to SFA, the 43-year old McFarland made coaching stops at
Kent State, Notre Dame and Clemson, coaching teams in the Citrus Bowl, Gator
Bowl and Orange Bowl. He has recruited Texas high schools and junior
colleges throughout his career and recruited Texas for both Central Florida
and East Carolina.