Richard’s Round-Up (11/2/23)
Marty Favret is in his 24th year as the Head Football Coach at Hampden-Sydney College during 2023-24. He was named the new head coach on December 30, 1999. Favret is the all-time winningest football coach in school history with 145 victories (145-86), and ranks second all-time for program winning percentage (.628) among coaches with at least five seasons. He has led the Tigers to 15 winning seasons in 23 years, including 10 seasons with at least eight wins, while a five-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year (2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013). His program is 95-51 in ODAC games, while winning five ODAC Championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014) and earning six NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014). Marty is currently the longest-tenured collegiate football head coach in Virginia.
Favret has coached 25 All-Americans, including four former Tigers who were two-time All-Americans, and seven who have been First Team All-Americans—one a two-time First Team honoree (Bill Doody, 2009-10). H-SC has had four Academic All-America® selections during Favret's tenure, including one two-time honoree (Tyler Howerton, 2019-20), and three have also been named the ODAC Football Scholar Athlete of the Year—one the overall ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year (Tyler Howerton), as well. Nine Tiger football standouts have won the Gammon Cup, awarded to the student-athlete member of the graduating class who has best served the College in terms of character, scholarship and athletic ability. H-SC football has had 114 First Team All-ODAC selections under Favret, including one four-time honoree (Ben Rogers, 2008-11), seven three-time honorees (Chris Scott, 2000-02; C.W. Clemmons, 2002-04; Ben Dull, 2003-05; Paul Williams, 2004-06; Will Farrell (2011-13; Holton Walker, 2012-14; Will Pickren, 2020-22) and 16 two-time honorees. Additionally, the program has had numerous second and third team All-ODAC selections during his tenure.
H-SC completed its 2022 season with a record of 5-5. The Tigers enjoyed a four-game winning streak during a successful stretch of the season that included five wins in six games—among them a thrilling 44-43 overtime road win at Washington and Lee on October 22 (2022) in Lexington that gave Coach Favret the most football coaching wins in school history. H-SC placed nine team members on the All-ODAC Team, including four on the First Team, and WR Mason Cunningham earned ODAC Rookie of the Year honors—the program's fourth rookie of the year since 2015. S Will Pickren was named to the Associated Press (AP) Division III All-America First-Team, the program's first AP All-American since the non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City relaunched its Division III All-America Team selections in 2017. Pickren was also an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Coaches' Second Team All-America selection, while four Tigers earned D3football.com All-Region 3 honors, including Pickren (First Team), TE David Byler, RB Melik Frost and OL TJ Minter—the latter three earning Third Team accolades.
H-SC completed its traditional 2021 fall season with a record of 5-5. The Tigers played a difficult schedule as seven of their nine NCAA opponents had winning records, combining to win 62 percent of their respective games; in fact, the schedule ranked as the fourth-most difficult among 239 Division III schools, according to D3football.com. The effort did not go unnoticed with 11 team members earning All-ODAC honors, including five First Team selections. Brendan Weinberg was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond State Small College Linebacker of the Year and Second Team All-Region 3 by D3football.com. S Will Pickren was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond State Small College Defensive Back of the Year and Third Team All-Region 3.
H-SC was able to play an abbreviated five-game schedule during the Spring of 2021, after the traditional 2020 fall season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigers finished with a record of 4-1, winning the third-place game of the ODAC's first-ever (only) Football Championship Weekend. Based upon winning percentage (4-1, .800), it was the finest season for the program since 2010 (9-2, .818). TE Ed Newman was named to the D3football.com All-America Second Team, while OL Brad Gholson was named to the All-Region Second Team. H-SC had 11 All-ODAC selections, including six that earned First Team honors, while OL Tyler Howerton was voted the ODAC's 2020-21 Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Scholar-Athlete Award Winner as the conference's top male scholar-athlete. Howerton was also the ODAC (Football) Scholar-Athlete of the Year after being selected as one of 12 finalists nationwide for the prestigious 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy® ... the academic Heisman for college football. Howerton was a 2020-21 Academic All-America® Division III Football First Team honoree, as well, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). S Will Pickren was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year, as well.
In 2019, H-SC finished with an uncharacteristic record of 1-9 with six All-ODAC selections—two earning First Team honors, while Major Morgan was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond State Small College Wide Receiver of the Year for the second consecutive season. In addition, OL Tyler Howerton was voted to the 2019 Academic All-America® Division III Football First Team, and PK Rhett Andersen was tabbed to the 2019 Academic All-America® Division III Football Second Team, as selected by CoSIDA. Howerton was also named a 2020 Goldwater Scholar, the College's first ever physics department recipient.
In 2018, the Tigers finished with a record of 4-5, though second in the ODAC (4-3) for the 10th time under Favret with nine All-ODAC selections, including four on the First Team, and RB Kaleb Smith was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year. In addition, Major Morgan was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond State Small College Wide Receiver of the Year. H-SC finished third in Division III passing offense (381.0) and 19th in total offense (457.3).
In 2017, H-SC finished with a record of 6-4 and had 12 All-ODAC selections, including WR Cam Johnson earning ODAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Tigers finished 12th in Division III passing offense (320.8). It was a solid bounce-back season after the squad finished 3-7 in 2016.
In 2015, the Tigers enjoyed their ninth consecutive winning season, finishing with a record of 6-4. The team had 14 All-ODAC selections, including five First Team honorees, and RB Kyree Koonce was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year.
In 2014, H-SC repeated as ODAC Champions, Favret’s fifth conference title and the program’s ninth overall while becoming the first team to win back-to-back ODAC titles since 2005. Finishing with a record of 7-4, the Tigers again had a strong award showing with 11 named All-ODAC, including three First Team choices. Additionally, QB Nash Nance won the Touchdown Club of Richmond Willie Lanier Award as the State Small College Player of the Year in Virginia for NCAA Division II, III and NAIA.
In 2013, Favret won his fourth ODAC Championship, the programs’ eighth and for the first time in school history, H-SC advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. The Tigers finished with a record of 9-3 (6-1 ODAC) and a No. 18 national ranking (D3football.com). On October 19 (2013), Favret won his 100th game with a 33-12 road win at Emory & Henry, and H-SC also earned a 28-26 road win at archrival Randolph-Macon. He coached three All-Americans, and his first D3football.com South Region Offensive Player of the Year (QB Nash Nance). Favret was named the ODAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time, and was the Virginia Sports Information Directors' (VaSID) Co-Coach of the Year, the third time being recognized by VaSID, and Touchdown Club of Richmond Willard Bailey State Small College Coach of the Year. H-SC placed 13 on the All-ODAC Team, including nine First Team selections, and LB Tyler Ikwild followed in the footsteps of his older brother (Trevor) in garnering ODAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
In 2012, the Tigers posted another winning record of 6-4 while leading the conference in scoring offense (36.5, 28th in Division III). H-SC had 12 players on All-ODAC teams, including six on the First Team. For the fourth-straight season, Favret coached an All-American (Will Ferrell, AFCA).
In 2011, Favret's Tigers won their third ODAC Championship since 2007 and advanced to the NCAA Playoffs for the third consecutive season — fourth in five years. Favret and crew finished with a record of 8-3 (5-1 ODAC), including a 5-0 mark at home to extend the win-streak at Lewis C. Everett Stadium to 15 (ended at 16 the following season). H-SC ranked second in Division III passing offense (340.6), and seventh in both total offense (474.5) and scoring (41.9). Favret was named the ODAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time while also capturing the same honors from VaSID.
In 2010, Favret guided the Tigers (9-2, 5-1 ODAC) to nine wins for the third time in his early tenure while earning a home game in the NCAA Playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Tigers completed the regular season with a 31-28 home win past Randolph-Macon for its ninth win in 11 games against their archrival under Favret. H-SC ranked 10th in Division III passing offense (307.6). LB Trevor Ikwild was named the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2009, Favret led his squad to an unbeaten and perfect 10-0 regular season record (10-1, 6-0 ODAC) for just the second time in school history (1971), and the program's sixth overall ODAC Championship. That season also marked the third time Favret was named the ODAC Coach of the Year, as well as earning VaSID and Touchdown Club of Richmond Willard Bailey State Small College Coach of the Year honors. DE Will Riggenbach earned ODAC Defensive Player of the Years honors, while LB Josh Miller was the ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. H-SC ranked 10th in Division III passing offense (310.0) that year, making its second NCAA Playoff appearance under Favret, and first playoff game at home (second ever).
From 2002 through 2008, the Tigers won eight or more games during six of the seven seasons (53-18). H-SC won its first ODAC Championship under Favret in 2007 (8-3, 5-1 ODAC), earning the first NCAA Playoff appearance under Favret, as well, and the program's first (second ever) since 1977. Favret was named the ODAC Coach of the Year after six consecutive conference runner-up finishes, ranking eighth in Division III passing offense (317.0), 11th in total offense (465.5) and 19th in scoring (35.8). The Tigers finished among the Top Five in Division III total offense and passing offense during 2003, 2005 and 2008, and were second nationally in scoring (45.0) in 2005. The 2003 Tigers led the nation in scoring (47.2), and Favret earned his first ODAC Coach of the Year honor, while WR Conrad Singh was the ODAC Co-Player of the Year. The 2004 squad was among the Top 15 nationally in the three offensive categories, with RB C.W. Clemmons earning ODAC Offensive Player of the Year, ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the Touchdown Club of Richmond Willie Lanier Award recipient as the State Small College Player of the Year, and WR Drew Smith was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year—Smith later became the ODAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 when he was also the Touchdown Club of Richmond Willie Lanier Award recipient as the State Small College Player of the Year. The 2005 team led the nation in total offense (525.2), as QB J.D. Ricca was the ODAC Offensive Player of the Year and the Touchdown Club of Richmond Willie Lanier Award recipient as the State Small College Player of the Year. Records during this period included 8-2 (2002), 9-1 (2003), 8-2 (2004), 8-2 (2005), 4-6 (2006), 8-3 (2007) and 8-2 (2008).
Favret led H-SC to a record of 4-6 in his first year at the helm in 2000, equaling the win total of the previous three seasons combined, and followed with a record of 5-5 in 2001, including a 38-26 road win at archrival Randolph-Macon, that began a seven-game winning streak against the Yellow Jackets (2001-07). The .500 record that season was the program's first since 1993.
Prior to taking over at H-SC, Favret served as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Catholic (DC) University for six seasons, where he was the architect of one of the most prolific offenses in Division III. Under his direction, CUA finished in the Top 30 in the country in scoring five times. His offenses set 75 school records, including the school’s Top Three single-season scoring records. Over the course of his last three seasons at Catholic, he helped guide the Cardinals to a 29-1 regular season record and three NCAA Playoff appearances. In 1999, CUA’s first year as an ODAC football member, the school claimed the conference title while the Favret-led offense topped the conference in both total offense and scoring.
Before joining the Catholic staff, Favret served for four years as the head junior varsity football coach at his alma mater, Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. He became the Purple Eagles’ varsity offensive coordinator in 1991, helping the team earn a No. 6 national ranking in 1993.
Favret was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the Catholic University of America in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He was a three-year starter at shooting guard for the Catholic U. basketball team from 1981-84, serving as team captain during his junior and senior seasons. Favret established a school record as a sophomore when he connected on 18 consecutive field goals. Prior to graduating from Gonzaga College High School, Favret played basketball for two years and baseball for one.
Marty and his wife, Cynthia, reside in Hampden-Sydney and have two daughters, Rebecca and Amanda.
