Colin Farrell, three-time national team oarsman and 2008 World Champion in the lightweight eight, has been named the freshman lightweight coach for the Yale 150s. Head coach Andy Card made the announcement Thursday.
A 2005 graduate of Cornell University, Farrell was a thee-time member of the Cornell lightweight varsity eight and stroked the lightweight varsity to back-to-back 8-1 regular seasons, as well as a bronze medal at Eastern Sprints and a silver medal at the IRA, both in 2005. Farrell was a two-time captain of the lightweight crew. Before coming to Yale, Farrell spent a year as the Men’s Heavyweight Crew Intern at Cornell University. Farrell coached the Third Varsity Heavyweight 8+ to an undefeated regular season and third place finish at Eastern Sprints. He also coached the JV Heavyweight 8+ and Open 4+ in preparation for the IRA and played an integral role in helping the varsity heavyweight crews achieve a 19-1 record during the regular season.
Prior to coaching at Cornell, Farrell was a member of the U.S. National Team and competed at three World Championships and two World Cups. He won a gold medal at the 2008 World Championships in the lightweight 8+, finished sixth in the lightweight 4- at the 2007 World Cup in Linz, Austria, and 11th at the 2007 World Championships, qualifying the U.S. men’s lightweight 4- for the 2008 Olympics. Competing in numerous elite level national regattas, Farrell won the NSR II in the lightweight 2- in 2008 and the USRowing National Championships in the lightweight 4- in 2007.
“Colin will bring to Yale a breadth of experience from high school novice rowing to the world championship medal stand”, head coach Andy Card said. “He has made the journey himself, and in our conversations it was clear he’s eager to help this generation of Yale lightweights fulfill their potential.” While training with the National Team, Farrell coached the novice men at Mercer Junior Rowing Club and later served as the Varsity Men’s Assistant Coach. Among other achievements during his two and a half years with MJRC, Farrell helped the varsity 8+ and varsity lightweight 4+ qualify for the U.S. Rowing Youth Invitational in Cincinnati.
Farrell began his rowing career in high school at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and continued rowing at Cornell. In addition to Farrell’s collegiate accomplishments listed above, Cornell Athletic Director Andy Noel presented him with the Mario St. George Boiardi ‘04 Leadership Award, established in memory of lacrosse captain George Boiardi ‘04. This award is given to the senior athlete who embodies leadership, athleticism, and a strong work ethic. Farrell graduated from Cornell in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.