In light of a historic achievement that placed head football coach Mark Farley as the 10th FCS coach to record 150 wins, the walk-on from Waukon, IA deflects the glory to everyone that contributed to those victories.

“The thing about the 150 is that I think back to the people that took a chance on me a long time ago, and I made sure to contact them or try to because Rick Hartzell [former athletic director] was the one that hired me,” Farley said.

Farley’s journey at UNI started when he walked on to the team in 1982.  Farley, who started at inside linebacker, would eventually lead the team in tackles from 1984-86.

Paying his dues from 1986-2000, Farley realized a dream come true in 2001 when he was hired as the head coach of his alma mater’s football program.

Now in his 19th season, the veteran head coach notched his 150th win in a 34-14 rout of Southern Utah at the UNI-Dome where it all began.

“What means the most to me is all the people that helped make it happen,” Farley said.  “I’m talking all the way back.  There’s so many friends in this community that have supported this program … Those are the ones that make this all go.”

Farley recognizes all the work that goes on behind the scenes from his days as a recruiting coordinator for the Panthers.  He also takes pride in all the players that helped him accomplish this feat.

“Then it’s the players that make the plays and the families that went around with them from the moms and dads that still contact you after a close football game from years ago,” Farley said.

“They remember sitting in those stands watching their kid make those catches, kicks or whatever it was in those big games.  So those are the things that you remember.  I don’t know if the 150 means a whole lot.  It’s just the people, what they brought to the game and the relationships of those times.”

Out of 150 wins, a few stick out the most to Farley.  “Beat New Hampshire at New Hampshire, beat Texas State, beat Chip Kelly [New Hampshire], beat [Tom] Herman when he was at Texas State,” Farley said.  “The ones you remember are the really tightly contested, well-fought, could’ve went either way games.”

Farley calls the achievement a test of the duration of time, and is grateful for everyone that played a part along the way.

“You don’t win 150 without a lot of other people,” Farley said.  “That’s the coolest part. It’s great, and it’s a great school to accomplish this at.”