But Staples’ letter, obtained by The Crimson, offered little beyond Farrar’s basic biographical information, much to the chagrin of several effected athletes not familiar with their new coach.

Staples was not available for further comment.

Despite the turmoil earlier this summer which surrounded the programs he inherits, Farrar was anxious when reached last night to tackle the task of completing the women’s renaissance begun one season ago under Russell. More pressing, though, is the need to restore the men’s team to its 2001 level, which Farrar considers “without a doubt the most accomplished in the history of the program.”

“After 23 years at Brown, it was time to challenge myself in a new way,” Farrar said. “It had reached the point where I wanted to return to coaching and this popped up at the right time.”

The match is a particularly attractive one for Harvard as well. According to Staples’ letter, Farrar-affiliated squads have defeated their Harvard opponents on all but two occasions during his career.

To do so, his teams have incorporated elements of Californian and Eastern European styles of play, according to Farrar.

“I would probably think to say that I have cherry picked the best from each,” Farrar said. [My style] is a legitimate hybrid of those two, though obviously we each always bring our own experience to bear.”

Cultivating a gameplan for the women figures to be slightly easier that for the men. In addition to having far more down time prior to the first game—the women’s season is in the spring—Farrar had the opportunity to observe their performance first hand with the rival Bears last season.

“I’m much more familiar with the women,” Farrar said. “I had kept in touch. I know we were plagued by some injuries last year and that can always be a devastating kind of thing.”

But Farrar’s first challenge will be to rehabilitate a men’s squad less than a month from the start of its season that is still smarting from its underwhelming performance last season.

Despite entering the campaign high on both expectations and talent, the team finished just 4-14—a disappointment some directed at Russell and his rigorous in-season training regimen.

“I think we have a lot of options, a lot of weapons,” Farrar said. “Our captain, Rick Offsay, played for the national junior team and Robbie Burmeister is an excellent goalie. In terms of a specific strategy—too soon to say.”

“This is a very strong team,” he added. “And I’ve been incredibly impressed with their off-season preparations. The team is coming into this year with great focus and a very high level of motivation.”

Though he has just weeks to match their summer output, Farrar cautiously predicted that he would not allow himself a grace period in the season’s early goings.

“[Getting ready] might hinder me getting as much sleep as I’d life for the next couple of weeks,” Farrar said, “but it won’t affect our performance.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.