End of an Era: Coach Farley Leaving UNI Football

Fans of the University of Northern Iowa Panthers were in for some shocking news this week.

A long-serving member of the football coaching staff is stepping aside at the end of this season.

Coach Farley Is Set To Retire

The head coach of the University of Northern Iowa's football team announced his retirement on Sunday, November 10th. Coach Mark Farley's intention is to retire at the end of the 2024 football season, according to a report from the college.

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Farley has been a part of the Panther family for approximately forty years now.

"For me, UNI Football has always been about setting a standard that goes beyond the game. It has been about a legacy of resilience, pride, hard work and excellence," the head coach said in a statement.

"Watching our players grow into leaders and champions on and off the field and carry that standard with them beyond the football field has been the greatest reward of my career."

The winningest coach in UNI and Missouri Valley Football Conference history will continue to lead the Panthers until the end of the season. His final game with the team will be the November 23rd home game against Indiana State.

You can get tickets to this highly anticipated matchup here.

Who Will They Get to Replace Coach Farley?

As of right now, the university does not seem to have a candidate in mind for this position. The UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin did confirm that the college will be conducting a nationwide search for the head coaching position.

"The success for Coach is not his own record but what the success of the teams has meant to the greater university and community pride," Franklin said in a statement.

"He will continue to be a valued member of the Panther family in his retirement years."

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