He attended Michigan Technological University, where he played forward for Coach John MacInnes' Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team from 1957-1960. He was an assistant hockey coach at Michigan Tech from approximately 1968 to 1973. He led the Michigan Tech junior-varsity teams to a 38-13-1 record in three years.
University of Michigan
In February 1973, Farrell was hired to replace Al Renfrew as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team. He was the head coach at Michigan for seven years from 1973 to 1980. At Michigan, Farrell compiled a record of 135-129-6. Farrell's 1973-1974 team was the first to play at the team's new home in Yost Ice Arena. His best season as the head coach at Michigan was 1976-1977 when the team compiled a record of 28-17-0 and advanced to the NCAA hockey tournament. The team reached its nadir under Farrell in the 1978-1979 season with a record of 8-27-1, but rebounded in 1979-1980 with a 23-13-2 record. Despite the rebound, Farrell resigned as Michigan's head coach in March 1980. He was replaced the following month by Wilf Martin, who played on Michigan's 1964 national championship team. Martin lasted less than eight months before he, too, resigned.
Business career
After resigning as the hockey coach in Michigan, Farrell had a career in business. He initially held positions in the financial services. As of 1993, Farrell was employed by the investment firm, IDS. He also held positions with Yorkton Securities and American Express Financial Services. Farrell later transitioned to the natural resources industry. In approximately August 2002, he was a co-founder of Quincy Energy Corp., a uranium exploration company in Hancock, Michigan. He remained with Quincy as chairman, chief executive officer and a substantial shareholder until July 2006, when the company was acquired by Energy Metals Corp. Farrell later founded Zacoro Metals Corp. where he served as president and chief executive officer from March 2006 to September 2008. After Zacoro was acquired by Aura Metals, Inc., Farrell served as the president and chief executive officer of Silver Predator Corp. from March 2009 to December 2009. In September 2009, he became vice president of corporate development and director of Copper Ridge Explorations, Inc., a company specializing in exploring mineral resource properties in western Canada and Alaska. He also serves as director of Hy Lake Gold Inc. As of 2010, Farrell was also a Michigan Tech Fund Life Trustee.
Head coaching record
†Michigan played jointly in the Big Ten and WCHA from 1959 to 1981
