Sean Farnham

Sean Travis Farnham (born September 16, 1977) is an analyst who calls college basketball games for ESPN. Farnham typically calls games (with Brad Nessler) 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 to Mike and Victoria Farnham.^[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 Arizona 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 than play as an early starter at another University. Farnham earned a scholarship prior to the start of his Freshman year. 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.^[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.^[6] 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 and remain with his girlfriend. Farnham 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]

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, the Experts and Numbers Never Lie.

Farnham currently lives in California with his wife and his kids, but he can be found all across the nation calling games in the Mid-West during Big Ten season and even as far west as Hawaii during the early basketball tournaments. His travels have allowed his children to experience many joys they wouldn't normally have in Southern California, such as building a snowman.^[4]

References

External links

• UCLA bio