Knight retires as Olivet College head softball coach, Farnum promoted
James Knight, Olivet College's head softball coach, has announced his retirement, effective immediately. James Farnum, an assistant coach the last two years under Knight, has been promoted to head coach, according to an announcement by Tom Shaw, vice president for enrollment management and interim director of athletics.
OLIVET, Mich. - James Knight, Olivet College's head softball coach, has announced his retirement, effective immediately. James Farnum, an assistant coach the last two years under Knight, has been promoted to head coach, according to an announcement by Tom Shaw, vice president for enrollment management and interim director of athletics.
Knight ended his fifth year as head coach for the Lady Comets on May 2 and 3 with a second-place finish at the 2003 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament. While at Olivet, he compiled a 73-104-2 record, including a 19-19 overall record this spring. Knight, Farnum and assistant coach Bob Turcheck were selected as the 2003 MIAA Softball Coaching Staff of the Year.
Prior to coming to Olivet, Knight had a successful career as a coach and teacher at Lakeview High School, where he retired in 1998. He coached boys' and girls' basketball, baseball, cross country and softball for a total of 63 seasons. He compiled more than 600 wins in basketball and 300 victories in softball.
Farnum, a 1993 graduate of Alma College, will continue to serve as an assistant coach with the Comet football program and teach in the college's health, physical education, recreation and sport department.
At Alma, Farnum was a four-year letterwinner on the football team. After graduation, he served as an assistant softball coach for seven years and assistant football coach for five years at Alma.