Success can be measured in more than just championships.  In the realm of intercollegiate athletics, it can include graduation rates, community involvement, and making a difference in a student-athlete's life. 
 
"The world of college athletics needs more Scott Farmers," said Michael Lotief, the former Head Softball Coach at the University of Louisiana, who worked under Farmer from 2007-16.  "He was never going to compromise who he is and what he stands for and I always admired him for that.  We had our share of headbutting and didn't agree on everything, but at the end of the day he was fair, decent, and cared about you."
 
After over 30 years of working in intercollegiate athletics as a coach and administrator, Farmer is retiring and will get the opportunity to spend time with his family that's been lost over the years.  He spent the last three years as the Director of Athletics at UT Permian Basin, helping turn around the Falcons and built a foundation for the department to be successful for years to come.
 
"Scott epitomizes what it means to be an Athletic Director who sees all the angles.  He sees the administrative side, the coach's side, and the fans side at all times," said Stefni Lotief, former Head Softball Coach at the University of Louisiana and administrator alongside Farmer.  "He always had that passion and that drive to get better.  He wanted to make everyone around him better and his passion was contagious.  That's why he was so successful at every stop he had."
 
Growing up the son of an Athletic Director and coach, Farmer knew he wanted to work in the field, but wasn't sure of the capacity he wanted to work in.  After a successful swimming career at Georgia Southern University, during which he volunteered in the athletics department, Farmer was named the Head Coach of the school's women's swimming team.  His teams were wildly successful, capturing eight consecutive conference titles plus one on the men's side.  The entire time, Farmer also served as an Assistant Athletic Director.  With a young family, he knew he couldn't devote his time to both positions and made the decision to step down as the winningest swimming coach in GSU history. 
 
"It was a very difficult decision.  We had just won both conference championships and I had to tell my athletes I was making the move," said Farmer.  "In the end it was the right choice.  There's a lot of parts about coaching I miss to this day, and there's a lot of parts I do not miss.  Moving to just the administrative side allowed me to impact more student-athletes than I ever could."
 
As a former coach, Farmer understood the challenges coaches faced and what it takes to be successful.  That experience translated into making it easier for him to lead his coaches and staff as he became an Athletic Director.
 
"When Scott came to Troy, he had some experience in athletic training," said Chuck Ash, former Head Athletic Trainer at Troy University who worked with Farmer from 1999-07.  "It made everything so much easier to not have to coach him and teach him what was going on before making a decision.  What stood out to me was he was a great decision maker.  I really trusted his decision-making ability.  Smart guys can make a good decision for today, but wise ones can make a good decision for all time.  Scott was one of the wiser people that I dealt with in athletics."
 
He was brought to Troy to oversee their transition to Division I-A (now FBS) and the department became the first school to make the transition based off four years of football ticket sales. 
 
"People always respected him because he was up front and honest," said Ash.  "He was never a salesperson selling a gimmick or something he didn't believe in and that spilled into all aspects of his leadership.  That's what made his time at Troy so successful."
 
After successfully moving Troy into the Sun Belt Conference and spending time serving as the interim AD, Farmer moved to Louisiana where he was tasked with helping rebuild the Ragin' Cajuns.  In 2011, he was named the UL Director of Athletics replacing his mentor David Walker. 
 
"Scott came into an athletic department at UL that was underfunded, morale was bad, and there was no pride in the community," said Michael Lotief, whose program went to five consecutive Super Regionals during Farmer's tenure.  "He did some amazing things here; the proof is everywhere.  He worked tirelessly.  He didn't go around selling championships, he sold integrity, pride, community involvement, and making a difference in people's lives.  Once everyone started to care for each other and bought into it, that's when the winning came about."
 
The department saw unprecedented success under Farmer's guidance.  Graduation rates were at an all-time high for the department.  The football team went to and won four straight New Orleans Bowls from 2011-14.  The Ragin' Cajuns were named the 34^th best athletic department in the NCAA Division I.
 
"UL was quite the challenge," said Farmer.  "They had pockets of success, but it was never sustained.  We changed the fundraising model by establishing the Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation which raised over $10 million a year each of the last couple years I was there.  I was very proud of going from nothing to that amount.  We strive to provide coaches and student-athletes what they needed to succeed, and we were able to do that.  We caught lightning in a bottle with some of our hires."
 
In just his fourth year on the job Ragin' Cajuns Head Men's Basketball Coach Bob Marlin turned the program around from a .500 record, to a Sun Belt Conference title and spot in the NCAA Tournament.  Marlin has turned the program around and is now the fourth winningest coach in Sun Belt Conference history.
 
"He helped put money into the program which led us to the NCAA Tournament and major facility improvements," said Marlin.  "The money he raised for us for more staff and the facility improvements we needed certainly had an impact on the program.  He was very business-like and hardworking.  He'd be there at seven in the morning on the weekends doing work.  He had a major impact on my career for sure as well as the athletics department."
 
Few programs in Division I were as successful as UL Softball and Baseball during Farmer's tenure.  Ragin' Cajuns softball reached the NCAA tournament every season Farmer was AD and in 2014 made an appearance at the Women's College World Series, while baseball reached back-to-back Super Regionals.
 
"Scott was the first Division I AD to chair the NCAA softball committee," said Michael Lotief.  "Most Athletic Directors jump on the chance to serve on the football, basketball, or baseball committee.  He was very impactful on the sport.  He changed the RPI and the way regionals are held.  The work he did is going to impact the lives of student-athletes and the sport for years to come.  He just wanted to do what's best for everyone involved."
 
After the successes at UL, Farmer made the decision to step down in 2016 and teach there his remaining few years before retiring.  It didn't take long but eventually he got the itch to get back into athletics when he got the opportunity to face a new challenge, Division II athletics.
 
"I had received a phone call that Dr. (Sandra) Woodley had taken the presidency at UTPB and was looking for an Athletics Director," said Farmer.  "I held Dr. Woodley in great regards from her time as the head of the University of Louisiana System.  I thought she was a dynamic leader, and I was kind of missing athletics.  During my entire career, I had never worked in Division II and that intrigued me.  My wife Jackie was the one that said, 'let's try it' and we absolutely loved every minute of it out here."
 
Farmer came to UT Permian Basin in 2017 and started to reshape the department.  He created the Champions Fund, an annual fund where donations directly support student-athlete scholarships.  He helped design the recently opened D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center, a state-of-the-art facility that includes a weight room, athletic training room, football and women's soccer locker rooms, as well as offices.
 
The improvements have paid off for the Falcons in a short time on the field and in the classroom.  Not only have multiple teams set program records for wins or conference wins in the highly competitive Lone Star Conference, but the Falcons have set records in the classroom.  Last spring, Falcon student-athletes combined for a 3.2 GPA, the highest in department history.  All eight women's teams posted a 3.0 GPA or better and combined for a 3.4 GPA.  A department record 225 student-athletes finished with a 3.0 GPA or better.  Seeing his student-athletes successful is all that mattered to Farmer throughout the years.
 
"I dedicated my entire career to supporting coaches because they are the ones that support the student-athletes," said Farmer.  "I came to work every day with the goal of making it better for them.  I try to clear the path so they can be successful because then the student-athletes are successful.  What I'll remember most is not the bowl games or the championships, but it's the student-athletes who tell you they were the first in their family to get their degree and make their life better."
 
The one common theme among Farmer's career was to make everyone around him better.  Whether it's current coaches, or coaches from his previous stops everyone says he made a major impact on their life. 
 
"Scott's the best person I've had the privilege of working for," said current UTPB Women's Basketball Head Coach Rae Boothe.  "Not only did he help me become a better coach, he helped me become a better person.  I hope I can impact someone the way he has impacted me."
 
Boothe's program is one of many that has seen improvement every year since Farmer took over at UTPB.  Last season the team set a record for LSC wins and came within a game of a conference postseason appearance.  Another program that saw major growth in facilities and quality of the team was football at UTPB.  Farmer helped steer the D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center which gave the program the facilities to compete on a national level.
 
"Scott provided hope to the aspirations we all had. He helped bring our greatest dreams to reality," said UTPB Head Football Coach Justin Carrigan.  "The fruits of his labor will live on for years to come."
  
Farmer lured established coaches, such as Head Men's Basketball Coach Josh Newman, to build the Falcons into a national powerhouse.  In his time at UTPB, Newman has extended the program's postseason streak to four years and has the team primed for a conference championship in the near future.
 
"Scott was a key factor when we decided to join the Falcon Family," said Newman.  "Scott's vision, leadership, work ethic and ability to communicate as an AD and an individual are unmatched.  He led by example and without a doubt always had the athletic program and school's best interest in mind. The changes and advancements he made at UTPB will be forever impactful and ultimately will be the groundwork for our foundation.  We are thankful to have had Scott as a boss, mentor, and friend."
 
While Farmer prepares to spend more time with family and enjoy hobbies such as hunting and fishing, he has put the Falcons on the path to success, molding the department in his vision and ideals.
 
"Scott Farmer set this University's athletics program on a path to success," said UTPB President Dr. Sandra Woodley.  "He is a consummate professional; an exceptional leader; and a great human being.  Scott cares so much about student-athletes and helping them develop into successful adults. We are lucky that he was part of our team for three years. Now he's passing the baton to Todd (Dooley), and I know we will continue to see great things on the field and in the classroom for all of our athletes." 
 
Success can be measured in more than just championships.  It can be measured in the people you've impacted and the lives you've changed for the better.  Whether it was one person or a community of people, Farmer was always there to do what he could to make their life a little better.
 
"The buzzwords in intercollegiate athletics: welfare of student-athletes, community service, trying to make a difference in people's lives through athletics so they can go on and make a difference in the community," said Lotief.  "Those buzzwords are always there, but that's who Scott Farmer is.  Those aren't buzzwords when it came to him.  He was always about personal relationships, making a difference in people's lives, character, integrity.   I turned around so many times at practice, and he'd just be sitting there smiling, watching practice, enjoying what was going on.  I miss working with him every day, I wish I had taken more time to tell him how much he meant to me and the impact he had on me, the student-athletes, and the community."