A coaching veteran of nearly 30 years, Larry Farmer starts his third season as assistant coach of the University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team in 2008-09. The former collegiate forward directs the Rainbow Warrior post players, assists with opponent scouting and recruiting, and tracks the team’s academic progress.
Farmer, 58, was a former Division I head coach at his alma mater UCLA (1981-84), Weber State (1985-88) and Loyola-Chicago (1998-2003), where he compiled a 166-179 combined record in 12 seasons. Most recently he served as a color commentator on ESPN and Fox Sports telecasts, which included UH and Western Athletic Conference games, and CBS Radio for the NCAA Tournament.
At UCLA, Farmer guided his alma mater to a three-year record of 61-23, including a pair of 20-win seasons and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. During the 1982-83 season, he coached the Bruins to a 23-6 mark, Pac-10 championship and No. 7 final national ranking.
Following UCLA, Farmer headed Weber State’s program for three years, where he compiled a 34-54 record from 1985-88. After several coaching stints, including a six-year term with the Kuwait National Team, Farmer was hired as head coach of Loyola-Chicago in 1998. In six years, he tallied a 71-102 mark, including a 17-13 season in 2001-02, which ended a 15-year drought of losing records for the school. College Insider named him Horizon Coach of the Year following that campaign.
Farmer’s other coaching stints include head coach of the Qadsia Sporting Club in Kuwait (1988-90), assistant coach with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors (1990-91), head coach of the Kuwait National Team (1992-97) and assistant coach at Rhode Island (1997-98). While at Rhode Island, Farmer helped guide the Rams to the Elite Eight in 1998.
As a player for the Bruins from 1970-73, Farmer played alongside Bill Walton and was a member of three NCAA championship teams during a stretch in which UCLA captured seven straight under legendary head coach John Wooden. In addition, Farmer has the distinguished honor of being the winningest player in NCAA history, losing only once in 90 career games.
Farmer and his wife, Chris, have one son, Larry III (20), who is in his third season at Denison University in Ohio, and one daughter, Kendall (14).
