Catawba Names Liam Farrell As Head Men’s Soccer Coach

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Liam Farrell has been named head men's soccer coach at Catawba College, it was announced today by Dennis Davidson, Director of Athletics. Farrell comes to Catawba from Appalachian State University, where he has served as assistant men's soccer coach since 2003. In addition to serving as recruiting coordinator at ASU, Farrell was interim head coach for three months in 2008, prior to the arrival of current head coach Shaun Pendleton.

"We are very excited to have Coach Farrell join the Catawba family and continue the legacy of outstanding soccer coaches," said Davidson. "He brings tremendous passion and knowledge of the game as well as excellent experience at both the DII and DI levels. We look forward to seeing Coach Farrell move the program back towards the top of the South Atlantic Conference."

Davidson continued to explain that Farrell becomes just the fourth Catawba soccer coach in the last 26 years, following Ralph Wager (1983-90), Peter Broadley (1990-98) and Craig Turnbull (1998-2008). "That is quite a history," said Davidson, "one that Coach Farrell was willing and eager to embrace. He has demonstrated an ability to recruit, develop and motivate student athletes to excel in the classroom and on the field."

Originally from Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., Farrell was a four-year starter and three-year team captain at Belmont Abbey, prior to graduating in 2000. Farrell was a three-time Conference Carolinas selection and earned NCAA Division II All-Regional honors in 1999. He started 79 of 81 games for the Crusaders during his career.

Farrell, who was senior class president, earned a business management degree at Belmont Abbey and was actually working at an advertising agency in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Farrell acknowledges that the 9/11 experience reminded him that his passion was for the game of soccer, so he changed careers and landed a position as Lenoir-Rhyne's assistant coach in July 2002.

A year later, Farrell was off to Boone where he assisted former Mountaineers' coach Paul Stahlschmidt for five seasons and then Pendleton during the 2008 season. In addition to his duties at ASU, Farrell was director of coaching for High Country Avalanche Soccer Association in Boone for four years.

While at ASU, Farrell helped mold 17 All-Southern Conference players and six Division I All-Regional perfomers. As recruiting coordinator, Farrell secured 28 underclassmen starters in conference play since 2004.

"I am honored to have been selected as the new men's soccer coach at Catawba College," said Farrell. "I am no stranger to the fine history and tradition of Catawba soccer and I look forward to building upon that same level of excellence on the field and in the classroom."

Farrell and his wife, Dolly, have a six-month-old daughter, Rory. He is scheduled to complete work on a master's degree in administration at ASU in May 2009.

Farrell takes over the Catawba program after Turnbull was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Relations and NCAA Compliance in December. Women's coach John Cullen briefly took over the men's team as well for about a month before moving to UNC-Charlotte in January as head women's soccer coach.

Catawba will also soon named a head women's soccer coach.

Assistant coach Frank Cardelle has been leading the Indians' off-season training and recruiting since Jan. 15 and assistant coach Kim Crowley has been doing the same for the Catawba women's team.