Seton Hall Prep's Farrell to Step Down

As it turns out, Seton Hall Prep's 71-60 loss to St. Augustine Prep Saturday afternoon in the Non-Public A final not only capped a season, but also to a brilliant career.

Bob Farrell, who became head coach of the Pirates in 1977, told his team after the game at Poland Spring Arena in Toms River that he would be stepping down after 34 years and 777 victories. Farrell leaves as the state's third "winningest" coach.

"Essentially it was just time for me," said Farrell, who led the Pirates to two Tournament of Champions titles, 12 Non-Public A titles, 10 Essex County Tournament titles and 20 conference crowns.

Longtime assistant Kevin Williams, who has been at Farrell's side for 16 years, will replace him as head coach. Williams will become just the third head basketball coach at Seton Hall since 1948. Frank "Finn" Tracey was the Pirates first coach before Farrell took over in 1977.

Farrell told Msgr. Michael Kelly, the school's headmaster, and athletic director Joe Walsh several weeks ago about his decision, but the secret was kept until Saturday when he told his players. Even then, Farrell told his players not to say a word until they told their parents.

"Seton Hall Prep has been blessed for 34 years with Bob Farrell as our head coach," said Walsh. "Thirty four years of excellence, measured not only by championships, wins and losses, but more importantly by how many lives he has positively affected using the basketball court as the classroom."

Farrell was inducted into the Seton Hall Prep Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. He coached the East Team in the McDonald's All-American High School Game at Madison Square Garden in 2002. He was inducted into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2006.