Former SFA Head Coach Returns to the Lumberjacks
3/26/2024 11:28:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and head football coach Colby Carthel added Robert McFarland to their 2024 coaching staff. McFarland will serve as the assistant offensive line coach for SFA. McFarland joins the Lumberjacks after serving as Louisiana Tech's offensive line coach for six seasons (2015-2020) He brings over 20 years of coaching experience to SFA.
During his seven seasons at LA Tech, the offensive line paved the way for four different 1,000-yard rushers and protected quarterbacks like Jeff Driskel (2015 C-USA Newcomer of the Year), Ryan Higgins (2016 C-USA Most Valuable Player), J'Mar Smith (2019 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year) and Luke Anthony (2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year.
McFarland has a long list of achievements and former players who competed in the National Football League. He served as offensive line coach for the United Football League's (UFL) Sacramento Mountain Lions (2011) under head coach Dennis Green and the Florida Tuskers (2010) as the run game coordinator/tight end coach under head coach Jay Gruden. The Tuskers led the UFL in rushing and produced the league's leading rusher.
He spent 2007-2008 as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for Iowa State University under then head coach Gene Chizik. He successfully rebuilt the Cyclone offensive line from scratch in 2007 and coordinated an offense that set several school and career records. In 2008, the Cyclone offense set a school record in passing yards per game, second all-time total passing yards, fifth all-time in total offense per game, sixth in total yards, and seventh in scoring. They set season single game school records in three categories. Iowa State cut its sacks allowed from 38 in 2006 to 17 and 2007.
Serving as head coach at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2005-2006, the Lumberjacks won twice as many conference games in 2006 than previous two years to finish tied for second place in the conference. In his two years as the Lumberjacks' head coach, McFarland coached two All-Americans and 26 All-Southland Conference players. In 2005, SFA had the No. 1 passing offense in the Southland Conference and in 2006, the Lumberjacks led the conference in total offense, total defense and scoring defense.
McFarland spent the 2004 season at East Carolina as the offensive line coach. Prior to that he spent four seasons as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Central Florida. During his stay at UCF, McFarland's offensive unit was ranked 11th in the nation in total offense and sixth in the nation in pass offense.
McFarland was the offensive line coach at Stephen F. Austin from 1991 through the 1999 season. During his earlier stint with the Lumberjacks, SFA claimed two NCAA playoff appearances and the 1999 Southland title. The 'Jacks advanced to the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs in 1995. SFA led the league in rushing offense four times with McFarland's offensive line leading the way. SFA also set single-season records for rushing yards (2,193 yards - 1993) and rushing touchdowns (30 - 1999) while McFarland was a Lumberjack assistant. Four of his former offensive linemen also went on to NFL camps.
He has made coaching stops at Kent State under Pete Cordelli, Notre Dame under Lou Holtz and Clemson University under Danny Ford. He has coached teams that have made appearances in the Citrus Bowl, Gator Bowl and Orange Bowl.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
McFarland and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two children, Ashley and Koy.
During his seven seasons at LA Tech, the offensive line paved the way for four different 1,000-yard rushers and protected quarterbacks like Jeff Driskel (2015 C-USA Newcomer of the Year), Ryan Higgins (2016 C-USA Most Valuable Player), J'Mar Smith (2019 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year) and Luke Anthony (2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year.
McFarland has a long list of achievements and former players who competed in the National Football League. He served as offensive line coach for the United Football League's (UFL) Sacramento Mountain Lions (2011) under head coach Dennis Green and the Florida Tuskers (2010) as the run game coordinator/tight end coach under head coach Jay Gruden. The Tuskers led the UFL in rushing and produced the league's leading rusher.
He spent 2007-2008 as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for Iowa State University under then head coach Gene Chizik. He successfully rebuilt the Cyclone offensive line from scratch in 2007 and coordinated an offense that set several school and career records. In 2008, the Cyclone offense set a school record in passing yards per game, second all-time total passing yards, fifth all-time in total offense per game, sixth in total yards, and seventh in scoring. They set season single game school records in three categories. Iowa State cut its sacks allowed from 38 in 2006 to 17 and 2007.
Serving as head coach at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2005-2006, the Lumberjacks won twice as many conference games in 2006 than previous two years to finish tied for second place in the conference. In his two years as the Lumberjacks' head coach, McFarland coached two All-Americans and 26 All-Southland Conference players. In 2005, SFA had the No. 1 passing offense in the Southland Conference and in 2006, the Lumberjacks led the conference in total offense, total defense and scoring defense.
McFarland spent the 2004 season at East Carolina as the offensive line coach. Prior to that he spent four seasons as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Central Florida. During his stay at UCF, McFarland's offensive unit was ranked 11th in the nation in total offense and sixth in the nation in pass offense.
McFarland was the offensive line coach at Stephen F. Austin from 1991 through the 1999 season. During his earlier stint with the Lumberjacks, SFA claimed two NCAA playoff appearances and the 1999 Southland title. The 'Jacks advanced to the semifinals of the I-AA playoffs in 1995. SFA led the league in rushing offense four times with McFarland's offensive line leading the way. SFA also set single-season records for rushing yards (2,193 yards - 1993) and rushing touchdowns (30 - 1999) while McFarland was a Lumberjack assistant. Four of his former offensive linemen also went on to NFL camps.
He has made coaching stops at Kent State under Pete Cordelli, Notre Dame under Lou Holtz and Clemson University under Danny Ford. He has coached teams that have made appearances in the Citrus Bowl, Gator Bowl and Orange Bowl.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
McFarland and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two children, Ashley and Koy.
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