STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 30, 2003 - Don Ferrell retired today after more than 30 years of dedicated and distinguished service to Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics.
Ferrell joined the Penn State staff in September 1970 and during his tenure has held several coaching and administrative positions. For the past 21 years he has been instrumental in the development of the nation's premier academic support systems in his role as the academic-athletic advisor for the Nittany Lion football program.
"My fondest memory easily is the relationships I've built with young men through the years and the way they accepted me and my advice," stated Ferrell. "It is almost like a father-son relationship. That has been very special for me. The guys call or come by to see me and bring their families.
"I've really enjoyed taking what was a pilot program, and watching and nurturing it and helping it become successful," he added.
"Don has been a great asset to the University in many different ways," said Coach Joe Paterno. "He was an excellent coach and teacher and has done a marvelous job running our academic support area. Our academic success and high graduation rates are a great tribute to Don. He's a fun guy and we'll miss him."
Ferrell is Washington, Pa. native who earned all-state honors in football and basketball at Washington High School and was a member of the Big 33 football team. He played defensive back and wide receiver at Drake University and earned his degree in education in 1964.
Ferrell was the head basketball and track coach and assistant football coach at Bishop-McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. from 1966-70. He came to Penn State in the fall of 1970 as the freshman and assistant coach with the men's basketball team, serving under head coach John Bach, and an instructor in physical education.
In 1975, Ferrell left the basketball program and one year later was named head coach of the Penn State men's and women's bowling teams. His tenure as leader of the bowling program culminated with the women's teams capturing the national championship in 1979.
An assistant professor in the College of Health and Human Development, Ferrell earned his master's degree from Penn State in 1976. He moved into academic advising in 1982 when bowling was dropped as a sport. Ferrell was among the handful of people, including Diana Kenepp, current Director of the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes, who were instrumental in the creation of an academic advising system for Penn State student-athletes, a system that has been lauded as one of the nation's finest.
Under Ferrell's direction, the Penn State football program has achieved high marks for its academic performance in tandem with the on-field success of Joe Paterno's team. During Ferrell's tenure, Penn State has consistently been ranked among the football programs with the nation's best graduation rates.
Among the Nittany Lions' academic accomplishments under Ferrell:
?? Penn State football players enrolling in 1995-96 earned an 88 percent graduation rate, according to the 2002 NCAA Division I Graduation Rates Report. The Nittany Lions' 88 percent rate was the highest among all teams that played in bowl games or were ranked in the final 2002 polls. The superlative figure was tied for third-highest among all Division I-A programs and was substantially higher than the 52 percent national average.
?? For African-American football players entering school in 1995-96, the Nittany Lions' graduation figure of 82 percent nearly doubled the 42 percent national figure, according to the 2002 NCAA report.
?? Eight Nittany Lion football players have received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships and 11 players have been Verizon first team Academic All-Americans. Center Joe Iorio earned both honors in 2002.
?? Eight Penn State players also have been selected a prestigious National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete, which provides an $18,000 fellowship for postgraduate study.
?? During its 10 seasons of competition in the Big Ten Conference, Penn State has had 124 Academic All-Big Ten football honorees, tops among all Conference institutions.
?? In 14 of the 17 years it has been eligible, Penn State has received honorable mention recognition by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for earning a football graduation rate of 70 percent or better
?? Thirty-two Nittany Lions earned a 3.0 grade point average of higher during the 2003 spring semester.
Ferrell also serves as the head timer and coordinator of the official table crew at Penn State men's and women's basketball games, a role he has had for more than 25 years and plans to continue in his retirement.
In 1996, he was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Ferrell and wife, Josephine, have three sons, Don, Darrin and Derik and one grandchild, Evan. Don and Jo will continue to reside in State College.