UNA Athletic Hall of Fame member Blake Farris is in his 16th year on the coaching staff at UNA and his 11th year as a full-time assistant coach. As a coach, he has been a part of nine NCAA Playoff teams and five conference championship teams.
In 2021, the North Alabama defense led the ASUN Conference with 14 pass interceptions and cornerback K.J. Smith led the league with six interceptions himself. Smith also earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors and was selected first-team Academic All-America® for a third straight year.
   In 2019, the Lions defense ranked second in the Big South Conference in interception yards (159) and average yards per return (17.7), while leading the league in interceptions returned for touchdowns (2). UNA safety D'Andre Hart was the leading tackler among all secondary players in the league and earned All-Big South Conference honors. The Lions were fifth in the conference in pass efficiency defense.
   In 2018 Farris helped lead the Lions to a 7-3 record in the school's first season of Division I FCS competition and UNA safety Chris Johnson signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Houston Texans following the season.
   Despite UNA's 5-5 overall record in 2017, the Lions' defense was dominant, finishing fifth nationally for fewest passing yards allowed (145.3), seventh in pass efficiency defense (94.89), 11th in interceptions (18), 16th in total defense (286.2) and 18th in scoring defense (17.5). Those numbers came against the toughest schedule in Division II during the regular season as UNA faced six playoff teams in its 10 games.
   UNA's defensive unit produced All-Gulf South Conference selections Maurice Carnell (CB) and Chris Johnson (S). Johnson was also an All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association, the D2CCA and D2Football.com.
   In 2016, UNA's defense led the NCAA Division II in pass efficiency defense with a 90.50 rating, was third in scoring defense (14.5) and fourth in pass interceptions (23). The Lions were also second in the nation in turnovers gained (36).
   Those efforts helped lead the Lions to an 11-2 record, a fourth straight Gulf South Conference Championship and a finish as the NCAA Division II National runner-up.
   Cornerbacks Levi Fell and Philbert Martial were first-team All-GSC performers and Martial was a consensus All-American after being named to the first team of five different All-America squads.
   His 2015 defensive secondary included All-GSC corners Fell and Martial, in addition to All-American safety Floyd Jones.
   The Lions went 9-3, won a share of a third straight GSC championships and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2015, finishing 10th in passing efficiency defense in the nation (101.15) and 13th in red zone defense (74.2).            UNA's 2014 secondary included All-Gulf South Conference performers in Martial and Fell as the Lions ranked 13th nationally in passing efficiency defense, 18th in fewest yards allowed passing per game and 20th in passes intercepted.
   The 2013 defensive secondary produced All-American Caleb Massey and Martial as the GSC Freshman of the Year. The Lions led Division II in interceptions with 29 and in turnovers gained with 39. The Lions also ranked 18th in pass efficiency defense, 21st in scoring defense and ninth in turnover margin.
   The UNA defensive secondary was equally strong in 2012 as Massey earned All-American honors and Floyd Jones was selected Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year.
   Farris served as a restricted earnings coach in 2010 and 2011, working with the cornerbacks. For two seasons he worked as a graduate assistant on the UNA staff and worked a year prior to that as a student assistant.
   A four-year letterman and starter for the Lions from 2002-05, Farris made 172 career tackles and picked off 16 passes, which he returned for 287 yards. Following his playing career at UNA he signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns. He was chosen for UNA's Football Team of the Decade for 2000-2009.
   As a senior he helped lead UNA to an 11-3 record and into the semifinal round of the Division II playoffs. He was selected first-team All-Gulf South Conference, first-team Daktronics All-South Region, second-team Football Gazette All-South Region, first-team All-Ameican by Daktronics, Football Gazette, D2Football.com and Dopke.com, and he played in the Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game. He tied a GSC record for interceptions in a season with 10 and broke the school record for a season. He finished ninth in Division II in interceptions and 10th in passes defended. He was named National Defensive Player of the Week by Football Gazette. He was UNA's co-Male Athlete of the Year for 2005-06.
   In 2004 he was a second-team All-GSC and a third-team Football Gazette All-South Region pick. He made 39 total tackles and had three interceptions for 51 yards. He started all season as a sophomore in 2003 and made 48 tackles with two interceptions. The Lions went 13-1 that season, winning a GSC title and advancing to the semifinals of the Division II playoffs. He played in ten games with four starts as a freshman and made 36 tackles with one interception.
   Farris played cornerback and wide receiver at Walker County High School and helped the Vikings to three straight playoff appearances. He also lettered in track.
   Born on Sept. 28, 1984, Farris has three brothers. He received his Bacherlor's of Business Administration degree from UNA in 2007.
   His brother Demetrea Shelton was a member of UNA national championship football teams in 1993 and 1995 and he coached his brother Lyndon Harris in the Lions' secondary from 2017-20.
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