BG's Farrell is Bears High School Coach of the Week

Jim Farrell had a shot at playing with the Bears when he signed a free agent contract with them in 1998.

On Thursday, the second-year head football coach at Buffalo Grove was honored by the Bears as their High School Coach of the Week after last Friday's 39-33 upset of previously unbeaten and state-ranked Prospect.

"It was only my sixth win ever, so it would definitely be one to help turn the program around," Farrell said with a laugh earlier this week.

Farrell, a 1993 Fremd graduate who starred in football and track, finished his collegiate career at Western Illinois before he was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent wide receiver in 1998.

Farrell also played arena football and was an assistant at Elk Grove before becoming only the third head coach in BG history. This year's team has already matched last year's victory total of three going into tonight's Mid-Suburban East visit from Wheeling.

In honor of Farrell's selection, $1,500 will be donated to BG's football program and he will be recognized in an on-field ceremony at the Bears-Rams game on Dec. 6.

Farrell will also receive a framed certificate and have the opportunity to attend a Bears practice and "chalk talk" with Bears head coach Lovie Smith and other 2009 Bears Coach of the Week honorees.