Marietta High School's Head Coach Resigns?

[Snowman79]

Nothing official just yet but word is after what is looking like a quick stint at Marietta High School as the Head Football Coach, Craig Farnsworth held a meeting today with members of the football team at the high school to inform them of his resignation.

A number of conflicting supposed reasons are going around Marietta, but he told the team it was for family reasons.

Farnsworth was hired on April - 7 - 2010

[schenk11]

From Marietta Times Article: http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/conte ... l?nav=5027

At least 37-year-old Craig Farnsworth can say that he left Marietta High a winner with a 33-28 triumph over host Warren in a 2010 prep football season finale at Vincent on Oct. 29.

On Wednesday, the MHS gridiron boss announced that he was stepping down after one season at the Tigers helm.

A search for Farnsworth's replacement will begin immediately.

"This was a very difficult decision for me as I have developed some great relationships with players, parents and coaches," Farnsworth said. "I feel terrible about leaving after only one season. It is the right thing for me to do right now as my wife's job has required many more days out of town than expected. This, along with the hours required for coaching has drastically reduced the amount of time we spend together. There is a good possibility that we will be relocating within the year, and possibly again in the future."

Said Marietta assistant and ninth-grade football coach Bob Springer, "Craig and his wife (Jo) simply have the desire to spend more time together. Football coaching and her job (management job within the nursing field) simply took so much time that their personal lives were being affected. It is a lifestyle decision."

Farnsworth also kicked off his football head coaching career at Marietta with a victory as the Tigers downed Morgan 28-7 in the 2010 season opener in McConnelsville. But in between, the orange and black 11 struggled and finished the campaign 3-7.

"We were competitive last season with only 26 players on the roster, and most of the season only 21 of those dressed for games," Farnsworth said. "We ended the season with five freshmen on the field in a rivalry game and won on the road. I believe the coaching staff did a great job of teaching the fundamentals of the game, instilling confidence in the players and showing the players that they could be successful. It wasn't always pretty, by any means, but the kids played hard and learned to compete. And for that I would like to thank the coaches and players.

"There is a good core group of returning players with experience. I look for the team to be improved and possibly be .500, or with a couple fortunate bounces, be 6-4. I wish the players the best and thank them for their hard work and willingness to do what it takes to get better. The next coach is going to have a great group of players."

About a year ago, Farnsworth - who succeeded Andy Schob (now the Warren head football coach) - was hired as the Tigers head football coach during a special meeting of the Marietta City Schools Board of Education. More than 30 applicants submitted resumes for the position.

A 1991 graduate of Parkersburg High School, Farnsworth began his coaching career the following year, serving as a Big Reds defensive coordinator for three years and offensive coordinator in 2001.

During the 2001 campaign, Farnsworth succeeded Marshall Burdette, who was dismissed for school policy violations, and became the PHS interim head coach. That season, the Big Reds went on to claim the W.Va. Class AAA championship with a 12-2 record.

After leaving PHS, Farnsworth coached football for three seasons at Musselman High in the West Virginia panhandle. He then headed south to Dutch Fork High in Irma, S.C., where he was the defensive coordinator.

In 2008, Farnsworth packed his bags again, and went to Hammond School in Columbia, S.C. There as defensive coordinator, the private school won a state crown. He then returned to Dutch Fork as an assistant head football coach.

"There is also the fact that I have spent all of my adult life coaching football," Farnsworth said. "I started when I was 19 and have sacrificed countless weekends of beautiful weather to sit in an office with no windows watching endless hours of video. I loved every minute minute of it. But now I would like to see how the rest of the world spends their fall weekends and do some things that I have missed out on. I don't want to wake up one day twenty years from now and wonder where that time went."

Farnsworth is married (wife Jo) and has a stepdaughter (Kayla). He has a Bachelors of Elementary Education degree from West Virginia at Parkersburg and certification in Special Education from Fairmont State University, where he's also working on his masters.

"Craig Farnsworth was a pleasure to be with and to work for," Springer said. "He was quick to use everyone's ideas and is a good listener. He genuinely loves MHS, fellow teachers, the administration and the kids.

"We have come so far in the last year. We have to find a way to continue the progress. I am, by the way, a real fan of the entire staff. I don't know what anyone's plans are now."

Farnsworth said he was very pleased with the many improvements made with the Marietta High football program.

"I am especially proud of the new Touchdown Club," he said. "With support lacking from the current booster configuration, I asked parents and community leaders to step up and create an organization that could provide the financial resources that have obviously been lacking in recent years. There have been key upgrades to the weightroom, numbers are up as there were 33 players working out before the start of spring sports."
© Copyright 2011 The Marietta Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[sider]

Sounds like a classy guy who is doing the right thing, didn't know marietta only had 26 players, thats a shock :122246

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Good luck to the coach and his lady.

Hopefully a new coach can be hired and get the numbers up and the program to where they want it to be.

[4thnpine]

Sounds like a classy guy who is doing the right thing, didn't know marietta only had 26 players, thats a shock :122246

26 players, unheard of for a school this size.

[moonshine]

I agree a classy coach and husband!

[black_and_orange]

Marietta should try to find someone who will be around more than 1 or 2 years. Going back to 2001, this will be the 5th head coach in the last 10 years. They need consistency, they need someone who has been in the school system as a teacher, and will be in the system for years to come. Some one who has already been commited to the school, and MHS atlhletics for years. You have tried the thought of bringing someone with great credentials: Hale no personal ties to Marietta, 5 or 6 years and gone, Spicer no personal ties to Marietta, 6 years and gone, Schob no support 2 years and gone, Farnsworth 1 year and gone.

[NYBuckeye96]

New coach and a new league. Lots of change coming to Marietta.

[WHSwarrior]

First disclaimer, I am a Warren alum and a proud supporter of Andy Schob and the Warrior football team.

Marietta should try to find someone who will be around more than 1 or 2 years. Going back to 2001, this will be the 5th head coach in the last 10 years. They need consistency, they need someone who has been in the school system as a teacher, and will be in the system for years to come. Some one who has already been commited to the school, and MHS atlhletics for years. You have tried the thought of bringing someone with great credentials: Hale no personal ties to Marietta, 5 or 6 years and gone, Spicer no personal ties to Marietta, 6 years and gone, Schob no support 2 years and gone, Farnsworth 1 year and gone.

Spicer was not gone of his own accord, nor was Schob. Spicer left because the district cut his teaching position and being a football coach doesn't pay the bills in Ohio, much less most of America. Coach Schob was pushed out of his alma mater after 2 seasons because of angry parents. I've met both men, and both are incredibly committed to their teams. Spicer is now at Hillsboro High, near Cincinnati OH, and took them to an 8-2 record last year and the brink of the playoffs. Schob will do great things at Warren if the levy passes, and he's the man I want leading us into uncertainty if it doesn't. Marietta lost out on two high quality individuals because MARIETTA'S ADMINISTRATION and parents didn't commit to them, not because the coaches weren't loyal or didn't care about their athletes.

I can't speak for Coach Farnsworth, but best of luck to him.

[fightingtigers45]

Don't know the guy, but based on this decision, he is a very admirable guy. A lot of coaches can learn from this decision.

[coal miner's son]

NOTHING should ever come before family. Would have been an easy decision, IMO. He did the right thing.

[schenk11]

First disclaimer, I am a Warren alum and a proud supporter of Andy Schob and the Warrior football team.

Marietta should try to find someone who will be around more than 1 or 2 years. Going back to 2001, this will be the 5th head coach in the last 10 years. They need consistency, they need someone who has been in the school system as a teacher, and will be in the system for years to come. Some one who has already been commited to the school, and MHS atlhletics for years. You have tried the thought of bringing someone with great credentials: Hale no personal ties to Marietta, 5 or 6 years and gone, Spicer no personal ties to Marietta, 6 years and gone, Schob no support 2 years and gone, Farnsworth 1 year and gone.

Spicer was not gone of his own accord, nor was Schob. Spicer left because the district cut his teaching position and being a football coach doesn't pay the bills in Ohio, much less most of America. Coach Schob was pushed out of his alma mater after 2 seasons because of angry parents. I've met both men, and both are incredibly committed to their teams. Spicer is now at Hillsboro High, near Cincinnati OH, and took them to an 8-2 record last year and the brink of the playoffs. Schob will do great things at Warren if the levy passes, and he's the man I want leading us into uncertainty if it doesn't. Marietta lost out on two high quality individuals because MARIETTA'S ADMINISTRATION and parents didn't commit to them, not because the coaches weren't loyal or didn't care about their athletes.

I can't speak for Coach Farnsworth, but best of luck to him.

As most here know me, I was on both spicer an Schob's varsity staff. Spicer's job as dean of students was eliminated, he was offered a different position in the school system as an inytervention specialist (Schob and Farnsworth's job) but he did not want to take the 2-3 classes for the certificatio. He turned the job down willingly, I would call that leaving on his own accord.

When reading black-and-oranges post, I did not see him saying they weren't loyal or dedicated, just they didn't stay long.

OBTW - Spicer 2-8 last season, he was 8-2 in his first year at Hillsboro. Just clarifyin for accuracies sake..

[WHSwarrior]

My argument with the original post is that Andy Schob was as committed to Marietta football as anyone can be to their school. And Marietta tossed him out the door.

And my apologies on Spicer's record.