Feb. 9, 2016
LOGAN, Utah - Steve Farmer, who has 17 years of coaching experience including nine seasons as an offensive coordinator, has been named Utah State's offensive line coach, it was announced Tuesday by Aggie head coach Matt Wells. Farmer replaces Mark Weber who accepted a similar position at Fresno State.
"We are excited to announce the hiring of Steve Farmer as part of our coaching staff," said Wells. "Steve has an extensive background in playing and coaching the offensive line, as well as success as an offensive coordinator. He fits very well into our scheme and has had experience in spread offenses and coordinating the run game. We welcome Steve, his wife Amy, and their two children to the Aggie family."
Prior to his appointment at Utah State, Farmer spent the past six seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe, coaching the offensive line and tight ends.
"I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of Utah State football and coach in the Mountain West," said Farmer. "I am impressed with the success the football program has had under Coach Wells and I am very grateful to be a part of Aggie Nation."
During his six years at Louisiana-Monroe, Farmer mentored 17 offensive players who earned various all-Sun Belt Conference honors including quarterback Kolton Browning who was named a College Football News Freshman All-American in 2010 and the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2012 as he helped the Warhawks to eight wins and an appearance in the Independence Bowl, their first since transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in 1995. During the 2012 season, Louisiana-Monroe set or tied 45 school records.
As a freshman, Browning tied the Louisiana-Monroe record for touchdown passes in a game (5) and consecutive games with 200-plus yards passing (8). Browning finished his career ranking first all-time in school history in passing yards (10,263), pass completions (951), pass attempts (1,577), and touchdown passes (81).
Prior to his six years at Louisiana-Monroe, Farmer spent the 2009 season as the offensive coordinator at Illinois State.
From 2004-08, Farmer also coached at Louisiana-Monroe as the offensive line coach for three seasons and as the offensive coordinator during his final two years. In Farmer's first season at the helm of the ULM offense (2007), the Warhawks posted their highest points-per-game average (23.5) since moving to NCAA FBS status in 1994. ULM also posted the sixth-highest yards-per-game average (385.7) in school history. The Warhawks finished the season ranked 16th in the NCAA in rushing (209.0 ypg) and 31st in fewest sacks allowed (1.5 pg).
Farmer led one of the best offensive lines in the history of the Louisiana-Monroe football program in 2007 as they paved the way for Calvin Dawson, a two-time Sun Belt rushing champion and ULM's all-time rushing leader with 3,378 yards, to his best season as a Warhawk as he rushed for 1,414 yards.
In 2006, the Louisiana-Monroe offensive line ranked fifth nationally, and first in the Sun Belt Conference, with only 13 sacks allowed on the year. The 2005 Warhawk offensive line allowed quarterback Steven Jyles the opportunity to earn Sun Belt Player of the Year honors and led ULM to a Sun Belt Conference Championship. ULM allowed just eight sacks on the season, which ranked third nationally, and only one in Sun Belt Conference action.
In 2004, Farmer's first season with the Warhawks, ULM added 41 yards per game to its offense and only allowed seven sacks, the lowest total in the Sun Belt Conference and second-fewest in the nation.
Farmer came to Louisiana-Monroe from Eastern Michigan, where the offensive line helped tailback Anthony Sherrell run for 1,531 yards, setting an EMU single-season rushing record.
Prior to Eastern Michigan, Farmer was the offensive line coach at Eastern Illinois, where in two years his lines allowed a total of only 17 quarterback sacks and helped EIU average over 35 points per game. He tutored eight all-Ohio Valley Conference linemen in those two seasons as the Panthers won the 2001 and 2002 OVC titles and advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs both seasons.
Farmer spent four years at Illinois State, two as a player and two more as an assistant coach. He coached the ISU defensive tackles in 1999 and tight ends in 2000. In 1999, ISU reached the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Semifinals.
Farmer played center for Illinois State from 1997-98, and was a member of the Redbirds' 1998 FCS Playoff team. He earned first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in 1998 and graduated from ISU in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
Farmer began his collegiate playing career at one of the most successful junior college programs in the country, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Farmer and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Rebekah (12), and a son, Luke (11).
Steve Farmer File
Coaching History:
2016- Utah State – Offensive Line
2012-15 Louisiana-Monroe – Assistant Head Coach/OC/OL
2010-11 Louisiana-Monroe – Assistant Head Coach/OC/TE
2009 Illinois State – Offensive Coordinator
2008 Louisiana-Monroe – Offensive Coordinator/OL
2007 Louisiana-Monroe – Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL
2004-06 Louisiana-Monroe – Offensive Line
2003 Eastern Michigan – Offensive Line
2001-02 Eastern Illinois – Offensive Line
2000 Illinois State – Tight Ends
1999 Illinois State – Defensive Tackles
Bowl Games/FCS Playoffs (4):
Louisiana-Monroe – Independence, 2012
Eastern Illinois - FCS Playoffs: 2001, 2002
Illinois State - FCS Playoffs: 1999
Conference Championships (4):
Louisiana-Monroe – Sun Belt: 2005
Eastern Illinois - Ohio Valley: 2001, 2002
Illinois State – Gateway: 1999
Playing Experience:
1997-98 Illinois State – Center
1995-96 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M – Center
Education:
1999 Illinois State – Physical Education
Family:
Wife – Amy; Daughter – Rebekah (12); Son – Luke (11)
