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Penn State Basketball

Shrewsberry hires Mike Farrelly from Hofstra as assistant; Battle, Colella also on staff

Photo by Penn State Athletics: Talor Battle

Update: Monday, 11:40 a.m.

Penn State made the Mike Farrelly hiring as assistant coach official this morning, plus sent out news of two more PSU assistants with new roles on the staff. They are Talor Battle and Nick Colella, both former Nittany Lion players.

This is what coach Micah Shrewsberry said about Farrelly in a university release:

“Mike is going to be very impactful in our program. The energy he brings on a daily basis is second to none. The relationships he builds in recruiting and with his players is a big reason why he has had success at every stop in his career. He did a fantastic job in his role as the acting head coach at Hofstra last season, and I think he is a rising star in this business. I’m excited to add Mike, Gina and their family to our basketball family!”

Photo by Hofstra Athletics: Mike Farrelly

Farrelly, as detailed below, was a longtime assistant coach at Hofstra and served as acting head coach this past season.

“My family and I are so excited to be coming to Happy Valley,” Farrelly said in the PSU release. “We are unbelievably grateful to Coach Shrewsberry for this opportunity. Coach has a great vision for this program. I can’t wait to get to work to help him build it and to help our student-athletes reach their dreams. The Penn State community has been so welcoming. Gina, MJ, Ryan and I are thrilled to be Nittany Lions!”

New role for Battle

Battle, Penn State’s career scoring leader, had been an assistant coach on the previous staff and now will serve an administrative role as an assistant to Shrewsberry.

“Getting Talor to stay on staff was a no brainer for me,” Shrewsberry said. “He is one of the greatest players to ever play here and he has a deep love for Penn State. Our players will benefit from his vast experiences of being a player here and from his years playing professional basketball.”

“My wife, Gretchen, and our daughters are excited for my opportunity to remain on staff at Penn State,” Battle said. “Penn State has always been such a special place to us, and we believe in Coach Shrewsberry’s vision for this program. Penn State changed my life, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be here to help give back to our student-athletes and learn from Coach Shrewsberry.”

Colella also gets new role

Colella will serve as the Penn State program’s chief of staff. He previously served as director of basketball operations and director of on-campus recruiting.

“I wanted to surround myself with guys who love Penn State and there aren’t very many people who love this place more than Nick,” Shrewsberry said. “He has been as instrumental in my transition to Penn State as anyone else. His knowledge of our program, school, community and conference will come in handy as we try to elevate Penn State Basketball to the next level.”

“My fiancé, Aly, and I are beyond excited to be a part of Coach Shrewsberry’s vision for Penn State Basketball,” Colella said. “His family values, leadership and experience are all qualities we value most. Since the beginning of my playing career here in 2010, followed by eight years on staff for the program, Happy Valley has been my home. I look forward to continuing my time at Penn State by helping Coach Shrews bring his vision to life and developing our student-athletes on and off the court. We Are…”


Original story Sunday on Farrelly hiring

Micah Shrewsberry has hired his third assistant coach since taking over the Penn State program, with word coming out Sunday afternoon that former Hofstra acting head coach Mike Farrelly.

Joe Mihalich was Hofstra’s head coach, but he missed this past season on a medical leave of absence.

Farrelly, who had been on the Hofstra staff for eight seasons, served as the acting head coach during the 2020-21 campaign. He led the Pride to a 13-10 record and tied for third in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Speedy Claxton, a former Hofstra star and NBA player, was hired to be head coach of his alma mater this past week.

With Farrelly available, Shrewsberry found an experienced assistant coach with Northeast ties.

Here is an excellent story about Farrelly, from February in the Hofstra Chronicle.

Shrewsberry previously hired Adam Fisher and Aki Collins as assistant coaches at PSU.

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