Moon Township, Pa. - Robert Morris University head football coach Joe Walton announced today the promotion of assistant coach Scott Farison to defensive coordinator. The move of Farison to defensive coordinator allows assistant head coach Dan Radakovich to work more with the offense as well as continue in his assistant coaching duties of RMU's defensive unit.
“By promoting Scott to defensive coordinator, it allows Dan the ability to not only to continue to assist in coaching the defense but also frees him up to coach on offense, as well,” Walton said. “Dan has worked extensively with our offensive line, and he is a valuable coach for us both offensively and defensively. Scott has improved and has really grown into an excellent coach for our program over the past five years, and I'm confident he will excel with the added responsibility of being our defensive coordinator.”
Farison has spent the past three seasons coaching the linebackers as well as serving as assistant special teams coach, and he will remain as the program's recruiting coordinator, as well. A 2001 graduate of Mercyhurst College, Farison spent the 2002 and 2003 campaigns as a graduate assistant coach with Robert Morris, coaching both the quarterbacks as well as the defense.
In 2006 Farison helped guide a Colonial defense that finished first in FCS in total defense, allowing just an average of 228.4 yards per game. That total ranked second in all of Division I football, behind only Virginia Tech (219.5 yards per game). As well as leading the country in total defense, Robert Morris finished first in FCS in pass defense (128.6 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (88.70) while ranking sixth in rushing defense (99.8 ypg) and seventh in sacks (3.09 per game).
“I'm excited about the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator,” Farison said. “We have a good defensive coaching staff in place that will help us continue our excellence on the defensive side of the ball, and I look forward to the challenge of building upon what we accomplished last season.”
Robert Morris opens its 14th season of intercollegiate football Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, when it welcomes Dayton to Joe Walton Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. contest. Under the guidance of Walton, the only head coach in Robert Morris history, the Colonials own an all-time record of 82-49-1 (.625 winning percentage). During that span RMU has claimed five Northeast Conference titles, a pair of FCS mid-major national championships according to Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette and two ECAC Classic victories.
