Farrell will oversee all compliance-related matters outside of playing and practice seasons, all rules education and legislative matters, initial and transfer eligibility, and all student-athlete admission and financial aid issues. He will also provide administrative supervision for men's soccer, women's soccer, men's tennis, and women's tennis.
Farrell is beginning his fourth year at Seattle University, previously serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Rules Education. He has introduced numerous concepts and mechanisms to insure that Seattle University's student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff are following NCAA and university rules.
"This is a well-deserved promotion for Shawn, as he has been a major part of our transition to Division I status," Hogan said. "Shawn's knowledge of the NCAA rules as well as his legal expertise will be important to us as we enter the Western Athletic Conference."
Before coming to Seattle University, Farrell served as an associate compliance coordinator at the University of Washington from January 2004 through July 2008. Before entering the world of collegiate athletic administration, Farrell was a practicing attorney, having received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington School of Law in June 1998. He worked in the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, at Lee, Smart, Cook, Martin & Patterson, P.S., and at Helsell Fetterman. Farrell was named a "Rising Star" by Washington Law & Politics magazine.
Farrell was a member of the Sonoma State men's soccer program before heading to the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in marketing. While at UALR, he was an assistant volleyball coach. During the summer of 1996, he worked as a legal and marketing liaison for Atlanta Centennial Olympic Properties, enforcing international, federal, and state law regarding copyright and trademark infringement.
The Seattle University athletics department has started Year Four of the process towards reclassification into full NCAA Division I status. Seattle U will join the Western Athletic Conference July 1, 2012.