CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Following the departure of Scotty Walden, Austin Peay Athletics has named Jeff Faris as the 22nd head coach in the history of the football program.
Faris comes to Clarksville after serving the past two seasons as the tight ends coach on Chip Kelly’s staff at UCLA. While with the Bruins, he helped contribute to a team that compiled a total record of 16-9. In addition, his group of tight ends recorded 32 receptions for 613 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, according to APSU Athletics.
Before joining the staff at UCLA, Faris was a longtime assistant at Duke University where he was with the program for 10 seasons. During his tenure with the Blue Devils, he worked in positions such as offensive coordinator and quarterback’s coach.
According to Austin Peay Athletics, Faris is a Tennessean originally from the Knoxville area.
“Natalie, Jack, Eli, and I are thrilled to be joining the Austin Peay family,” said Faris in a APSU news release. “To come home and be a part of the incredible history and tradition of our great University is a dream come true. We love the Clarksville community and look forward to meeting everyone. I cannot wait to get to work with this special group. It is a great day to be a Gov! Let’s Go Peay!”