George Michael Farley (January 14, 1934 – August 28, 2018) was an American football coach and baseball player.[1] After coaching at various high schools throughout Wisconsin,[2] he served as the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls from 1970 to 1988.[3] Before he entered coaching, Farley was a standout baseball player, first in high school at Alton, Illinois, then for two seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization, and then in college at the University of Illinois.[4]

Mike Farley
Biographical details
Born(1934-01-14)January 14, 1934
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedAugust 28, 2018(2018-08-28) (aged 84)
Arizona, U.S.
Playing career
Baseball
1954Pine Bluff Judges
1954Marion Marauders
1955–1957Illinois
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1958–1960Pardeeville HS (WI)
1961–1962Portage HS (WI)
1963–1966Sparta HS (WI)
1967–1969Racine Park HS (WI)
1970–1988River Falls State / Wisconsin–River Falls
Baseball
1958Illinois (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall116–70–3 (college)
51–26–7 (high school)
Tournaments0–1 (NAIA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
8 WSUC (1975–1976, 1979–1980, 1984–1987)

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
River Falls State / Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons (Wisconsin State University Conference) (1970–1988)
1970 River Falls State 1–8 0–8 9th
1971 Wisconsin–River Falls 3–7 2–6 T–7th
1972 Wisconsin–River Falls 4–6 4–4 T–4th
1973 Wisconsin–River Falls 4–5–1 3–4–1 6th
1974 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–3 5–3 4th
1975 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–2 7–1 T–1st
1976 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–3 6–2 T–1st
1977 Wisconsin–River Falls 4–6 3–5 T–5th
1976 Wisconsin–River Falls 4–6 3–5 T–5th
1979 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–2 7–1 1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
1980 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–2 6–2 T–1st
1981 Wisconsin–River Falls 5–5 3–5 T–7th
1982 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–2–1 6–2 T–2nd
1983 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–2 6–2 T–3rd
1984 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–2 7–1 T–1st
1985 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–1–1 6–1–1 1st
1986 Wisconsin–River Falls 8–2 7–1 T–1st
1987 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–3[n 1] 6–2[n 1] T–1st[n 1]
1988 Wisconsin–River Falls 7–3 6–2 T–2nd
River Falls State / Wisconsin–River Falls: 116–70–3 93–57–2
Total: 116–70–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Wisconsin–River Falls finished the 1987 with an overall record of 6–4 and a conference mark of 5–3, tying for second place in the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC). In May 1988, Wisconsin–Stevens Point, who won the conference title and defeated Wisconsin–River Falls, forfeited all their wins from the 1987 season because of the use of two ineligible players. This elevated Wisconsin–River Falls's record to 7–3 overall and 6–2 in conference play and placed them into a share of the conference title with Wisconsin–Whitewater.[5][6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Passing Legend Iconic Coach Mike Farley Remembered". River Falls Journal. August 30, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "Mike Farley". Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Legendary Football Coach Mike Farley Passes Away". UWRF Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "George M. Farley". Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  5. ^ "Clark sets passing mark". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. November 15, 1987. p. 3B. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ "Surprise: Lutes are champs after all". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. May 10, 1988. p. C1. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .
  7. ^ "WIAC Football All-Time Standings" (PDF). Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. p. 7. Retrieved November 28, 2021.