Sean Farnham

Sean Travis Farnham (born September 16, 1977) is an analyst who calls college basketball games for ESPN.

Farnham typically calls games featuring the Southeastern Conference as part of ESPN's Super Tuesday and Thursday Night Showcase packages, while he has previously called games for the Big Ten Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Western Athletic Conference, West Coast Conference Pac-12 Conference and the Big 12 Conference.

Before joining ESPN, Farnham worked for CBS Sports Network, then known as CSTV and CBS College Sports, calling games from the Mountain West Conference, the Atlantic 10 Conference, and Conference USA.[1] He has also called Pac-12 games for Fox Sports West.[2]

Early life

Farnham was born in Walnut Creek, California.[3] He grew up in Clayton, California and attended De La Salle High School, where he played basketball. Farnham was a member of the powerful AAU program the Oakland Soldiers, it was on this team that Sean gained attention for his play at the BCI event in Phoenix where he was named BCI All-American in July 1993. He led De La Salle to their first ever Nor Cal championship his senior year (1996) where they face Crenshaw in the D-1 State final. After high school, Farnham would play for the UCLA Bruins from 1997-2000.[3]

College career

Farnham entered UCLA as a walk-on so he could play for a national title contender rather accept an athletic scholarship and be a star player at another university. With hard work and determination he earned a full ride scholarship.[4][5] On a year-to-year scholarship,[6] Farnham's funding was cut off in his junior year in 1998–99 as UCLA coach Steve Lavin used it to secure one of the best recruiting classes in the nation.[7] In that season's Pac-10 conference (later known as the Pac-12) opener against No. 6 Arizona, Farnham received his first career start after JaRon Rush had been suspended, and Jerome Moiso and Dan Gadzuric were benched for not practicing earlier in the week. Farnham left the game after four minutes with UCLA ahead 13–4, and the Bruins won 82–75 over the previously undefeated Wildcats.[7] Farnham regained his scholarship as a senior in 1999–2000.[6]

During his time at UCLA, Farnham was known for his hard work, effort, and determination. During his four seasons in Westwood Farnham took home the team awards in 1997 Freshman of the Year; 1999 Most Improved and 2000 the UCLA Faculty Athletic Representative Award. During 1997-98 season, Farnham told Bill Macdonald that he had an easy job. Farnham then proceeded to deliver an intro that the producer at Fox Sports West heard over the headset. After the game Fox Sports West approached Farnham and offered him an unpaid position that wouldn't violate NCAA rules but would allow Farnham to deliver insights on players at UCLA and across the Pac-12 Conference. Farnham took the position and remained doing these profiles until his graduation in 2000.[4] During his senior season, Farnham would play in 23 games, start in 11, and average 1.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.[8] During his career, UCLA had a 19–2 record with Farnham as a starter.[5]

Coaching & Broadcasting

Upon graduation, Farnham would be hired as an assistant coach at Pepperdine University. Farnham became the youngest assistant coach in the nation. Farnham would work alongside Jan van Breda Kolff. Despite an impressive record of 22-9, his tenure in coaching lasted only one season.[9] Van Breda Kolff would be hired as the head coach at Saint Bonaventure University, and Farnham found himself with two choices: head east, or find a new job in the West. Sean called up his old friends at Fox Sports West, and his broadcasting career began. Farnham would initially start with athlete profiles, but he would work his way up to high school analyst and then college basketball analyst.[4] During his 10-year broadcast career at Fox Sports West, Farnham would win two Los Angeles based broadcast emmys, cover the Lakers, Clippers, Angels and Dodgers as well.[1] His greatest achievement yet was when he won the 2019 Coach Dave Loos MVP Award.

In addition to his television broadcasts, Farnham would add radio broadcasting career to his resume. Beginning in 2003, Farnham would host postgame shows for the Lakers, USC, and UCLA on ESPN 710 AM. In 2008 Farnham became the co-host for Nationally Syndicated afternoon drive show with Chris Meyers on Fox Sports Radio.[1] He would remain on the afternoon show until he was hired with ESPN in 2010. During those years at Fox Sports Radio, Farnham anchored their NFL Draft show, was on site for multiple Super Bowls, World Series, MLB All-Star Games, Final Fours, Daytona 500, American Century Golf Championships, and the Dew Action Sports Tour.

Over the last 4 years with ESPN Sean has partnered with Dan Shulman, David Flemming, Joe Tessitore, Dave O'Brien and Carter Blackburn. He has appeared on First Take, The Herd, SportsCenter, College Basketball Live, Katz Korner, Get Up, the Experts and Numbers Never Lie.

Personal life

Farnham currently lives in California with his wife and his kids, but he can be found all across the nation calling games and even leaving the country numerous times traveling to China, and Canada. His travels have allowed his children to experience new situations, and see the world in different, unique ways.[4]

The uncle of Farnham's wife, is Michael Mullen, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2012, Farnham launched Hoops From Home, a non-profit organization that brought basketball camps to children of military personnel living on military bases.[10][11]

References
  1. "Sean Farnham, ESPN Media Zone Profile".
  2. "Where are they now? Men's basketball, 1990 onward".
  3. "Sean Farnham, UCLA Athlete Profile".
  4. Lisk, Jason (March 4, 2013). "Sean Farnham, ESPN College Basketball Analyst, Is Moving Up The Only Way He Knows How". The Big Lead. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  5. Kilduff, Paul (April 4, 2000). "Ex-De La Salle Star Gets 'Walk-On' Role, Runs With It at UCLA / Farnham plays key role for Bruins". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  6. Howard-Cooper, Scott (December 7, 1999). "Bailey Among Trio Rewarded". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  7. Plaschke, Bill (January 3, 1999). "Suddenly, the Outlook in Westwood Is Rosier". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  8. "Athletes Prepare for Careers".
  9. "Basketball State: Pepperdine 2001".
  10. Enos, Ben (July 2, 2012). "Sean Farnham aiming to bring basketball to military children". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  11. O'Neil, Dana (May 25, 2012). "Hoops from Home really hits home". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
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