Central Michigan University Athletics
Football
Brandon Johnson-Farrell
- Title:
- Wide Receivers Coach
- Phone:
- @Coach_BJFarrell (X)
- Year at CMU:
- 2nd year at CMU
- Hometown:
- Odenton, Md.
- Alma Mater/Year:
- Rhode Island/2012
- Experience:
- 10th year
Brandon Johnson-Farrell brings 10 years of coaching experience and is in his second season on head coach Matt Drinkall’s staff as wide receivers coach.
In his first season at Central Michigan in 2025, Johnson-Farrell helped guide the Chippewas to their first bowl appearance in four years with a 7-6 overall record and a 5-3 MAC mark. The team posted its highest win total since 2021. Johnson-Farrell’s wide receivers included Third Team All-MAC pick Langston Lewis, who led the Chippewas with 43 receptions and 596 yards with three touchdowns, and Tommy McIntosh, who finished with 31 receptions for 422 yards and three touchdowns. The Chippewas scored 16 receiving touchdowns.
Johnson-Farrell joined the Central Michigan coaching staff after coaching wide receivers at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., in 2025. He previously worked with CMU Offensive Coordinator Jim Chapin and Offensive Line Coach Hayden Mace at various stops, including Eastern Washington and Sioux Falls. In 2024 at Lindenwood, Johnson-Farrell coached wide receiver Jeff Caldwell to All-America honors. Caldwell ranked eighth nationally in yards per reception (19.47) and 12th in touchdown receptions (11).
In 2023, he coached running backs at Eastern Washington alongside Chapin and Mace, helping the offense rank No. 15 nationally in scoring (32.3 points per game) and No. 21 in total offense (417.6 yards per game).
At Valdosta State in 2022, Johnson-Farrell coached two all-conference wide receivers, Victor Talley and BK Smith. Valdosta State was the only team in the Gulf South Conference to finish with two wide receivers ranked among the league’s top five in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Tally and Smith helped the Blazers’ offense average 476 yards per game (No. 5 nationally) and score 36.6 points per game (No. 12 nationally).
Johnson-Farrell spent six seasons at the University of Sioux Falls, serving as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2018-21. He mentored 10 all-conference players, and Sioux Falls reached the playoffs three times. His receivers ranked among the best in NSIC’s best, and in 2021, his special teams set program records for blocked punts (four), kickoff coverage average (15.8 yards), and net punting (38.8 yards).
Johnson-Farrell worked as a graduate assistant with the Cougars from 2016-17. In 2017, he coached two running backs to all-conference honors, while the team averaged 190 rushing yards per game. In 2016, the Cougars finished 11-0 in the regular season, won the NSIC Championship, earned a playoff berth, and ranked No. 8 in the final AFCA poll.
A native of Odenton, Md., Johnson-Farrell played collegiately at the University of Rhode Island, where he had a prolific career as a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association wide receiver. As a four-year starter, he ranked among the school’s leaders in several receiving and return statistics, registering 198 receptions, 2,064 receiving yards, and 5,083 all-purpose yards.
He later played in the Indoor Football League and earned the 2015 IFL United Bowl Most Valuable Player award.
Johnson-Farrell graduated from Rhode Island in 2012 with a degree in human development and earned a Master of Business Administration from Sioux Falls in 2017.
THE JOHNSON-FARRELL FILE
Birthdate: February 15, 1990
Hometown: Odenton, Md.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Human Development, University of Rhode Island, 2012
Master of Business Administration, Sioux Falls University, 2017
Coaching Career
Wide Receivers Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Wide Receivers Coach, Lindenwood University, 2024
Running Backs Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2023
Wide Receivers Coach, Valdosta State University, 2022
Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach, University of Sioux Falls, 2018-21
Graduate Assistant, University of Sioux Falls, 2016-17
In his first season at Central Michigan in 2025, Johnson-Farrell helped guide the Chippewas to their first bowl appearance in four years with a 7-6 overall record and a 5-3 MAC mark. The team posted its highest win total since 2021. Johnson-Farrell’s wide receivers included Third Team All-MAC pick Langston Lewis, who led the Chippewas with 43 receptions and 596 yards with three touchdowns, and Tommy McIntosh, who finished with 31 receptions for 422 yards and three touchdowns. The Chippewas scored 16 receiving touchdowns.
Johnson-Farrell joined the Central Michigan coaching staff after coaching wide receivers at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., in 2025. He previously worked with CMU Offensive Coordinator Jim Chapin and Offensive Line Coach Hayden Mace at various stops, including Eastern Washington and Sioux Falls. In 2024 at Lindenwood, Johnson-Farrell coached wide receiver Jeff Caldwell to All-America honors. Caldwell ranked eighth nationally in yards per reception (19.47) and 12th in touchdown receptions (11).
In 2023, he coached running backs at Eastern Washington alongside Chapin and Mace, helping the offense rank No. 15 nationally in scoring (32.3 points per game) and No. 21 in total offense (417.6 yards per game).
At Valdosta State in 2022, Johnson-Farrell coached two all-conference wide receivers, Victor Talley and BK Smith. Valdosta State was the only team in the Gulf South Conference to finish with two wide receivers ranked among the league’s top five in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Tally and Smith helped the Blazers’ offense average 476 yards per game (No. 5 nationally) and score 36.6 points per game (No. 12 nationally).
Johnson-Farrell spent six seasons at the University of Sioux Falls, serving as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2018-21. He mentored 10 all-conference players, and Sioux Falls reached the playoffs three times. His receivers ranked among the best in NSIC’s best, and in 2021, his special teams set program records for blocked punts (four), kickoff coverage average (15.8 yards), and net punting (38.8 yards).
Johnson-Farrell worked as a graduate assistant with the Cougars from 2016-17. In 2017, he coached two running backs to all-conference honors, while the team averaged 190 rushing yards per game. In 2016, the Cougars finished 11-0 in the regular season, won the NSIC Championship, earned a playoff berth, and ranked No. 8 in the final AFCA poll.
A native of Odenton, Md., Johnson-Farrell played collegiately at the University of Rhode Island, where he had a prolific career as a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association wide receiver. As a four-year starter, he ranked among the school’s leaders in several receiving and return statistics, registering 198 receptions, 2,064 receiving yards, and 5,083 all-purpose yards.
He later played in the Indoor Football League and earned the 2015 IFL United Bowl Most Valuable Player award.
Johnson-Farrell graduated from Rhode Island in 2012 with a degree in human development and earned a Master of Business Administration from Sioux Falls in 2017.
THE JOHNSON-FARRELL FILE
Birthdate: February 15, 1990
Hometown: Odenton, Md.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Human Development, University of Rhode Island, 2012
Master of Business Administration, Sioux Falls University, 2017
Coaching Career
Wide Receivers Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Wide Receivers Coach, Lindenwood University, 2024
Running Backs Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2023
Wide Receivers Coach, Valdosta State University, 2022
Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach, University of Sioux Falls, 2018-21
Graduate Assistant, University of Sioux Falls, 2016-17
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