Wanted: Harvard water polo coach for men’s team coming off a 4-14 season. Must be able to prepare team for new season in only one month. Team is looking for third new coach in three years. Experience necessary.

With a want ad like that, who wouldn’t be chomping at the bit for the job as Harvard water polo coach?

The job requires someone with talent and skill. Someone who has coached a high-caliber team before. Perhaps someone who is ready to return to coaching after taking time off to build custom furniture?

After the abrupt resignation of coach Scott Russell, the Harvard men’s water polo team was praying for fresh blood to revitalize the slumping program. Its prayers have been answered with Erik Farrar, named Coach of the Year once by the Eastern Water Polo Associate and twice by the Collegiate Water Polo Association

“Until this fall, my only coaching experience had been at my alma mater,” Farrar said, “so in many respects, it was time for a new challenge.”

After five successful years with the Bears, Farrar left coaching in 1998 to spend more time with his family and continue pursuing carpentry. When approached with the job of Crimson water polo coach this past summer, Farrar felt both the timing and the opportunity were perfect for his return.

“When I heard that Scott was leaving and Erik was replacing him, I was very excited,” said junior Robbie Burmeister, Harvard’s goaltender. “I felt that after last year, we needed a fresh start and an opportunity to wipe the slate clean as a team.”

Sophomore Borna Dabiri agreed.

“After the season with Scott, things couldn’t get any worse, I don’t think. I was excited to get all the drama behind us and get moving on the new season,” he said.

Farrar certainly has experience guiding struggling teams to victory. In 1991, budget cuts led Brown to terminate the varsity status of its men’s water polo team. After a lackluster 1992 season, Farrar led the squad to a 22-5 record and a third-place finish in the Easterns.

This weekend’s ECAC Championships will showcase what Coach Farrar has—or has not—been able to accomplish with the Crimson squad. Harvard is the No. 10—and lowest—seed in the tournament. The Crimson did, however. defeat the No. 4 seed, Queens College, in its opening game. Under Farrar’s guidance, Harvard jumped to a 9-0 lead in the opening period and ultimately defeated the Knights 17-9.

“I was a little nervous, just because he didn’t have a whole lot of time before we came for preseason,” sophomore Mike Garcia said, “but he has done a great job so far.”

Whether or not the Crimson can climb any further up the ladder remains to be seen, as Harvard lost to No. 3-seeded St. Francis last weekend.

But with his extensive coaching experience, Farrar might be just the man to rehabilitate the Crimson program, and much of his success he might attribute to his own skills as a water polo player.

“I was a goaltender,” Farrar said. “ Not surprisingly, many coaches are former goalies.  We spent much of our time watching the offense and the rest of the time running the defense.  Defense, obviously, is something I emphasize a great deal.”

In 1984, when Farrar was playing for the Bears, Brown made history by finishing the season with a No. 6 ranking in the American Water Polo Coaches Association Poll—the best ever for a school from the east.