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Gary Darnell
By Ethan Levine
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Gary Darnell coached college football for more than 30 years, including stints as the interim head coach at Florida and Texas A&M during his career. In two years as defensive coordinator at Florida in 1988-1989, Darnell led the Gators’ defense to back-to-back No. 1 rankings in the SEC, and served as head coach for the final seven games of the ’89 season after then-head coach Galen Hall was fired. Darnell finished the season with a 3-4 record as head coach including a loss in that season’s Freedom Bowl.
Darnell also served as the interim head coach at Texas A&M for the final game of the 2007 season, leading the Aggies to a loss in the Alamo Bowl following the resignation of former head coach Dennis Franchione. It would be the final game of Darnell’s coaching career in any capacity. He spent three years as head coach at Tennessee Tech from 1983-1985 and eight seasons as head coach at Western Michigan, amassing a career record of 52-80 as a head coach.
| Coaching History | Team | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Interim Head Coach | Texas A&M Aggies | 2007 |
| Defensive Coordinator | Texas A&M Aggies | 2006-2007 |
| Head Coach | Western Michigan Broncos | 1997-2004 |
| Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator | Texas Longhorns | 1994-1996 |
| Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator | Texas Longhorns | 1992-1993 |
| Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 1990-1991 |
| Interim Head Coach | Florida Gators | 1989 |
| Defensive Coordinator | Florida Gators | 1988-1989 |
| Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 1986-1987 |
| Head Coach | Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles | 1980-1981 |
| Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator | Kansas St. Wildcats | 1978-1982 |
| Linebackers Coach | North Carolina Tar Heels | 1976-1977 |
| Linebackers Coach | SMU Mustangs | 1973-1975 |
| Linebackrs Coach | Oklahoma St. Cowboys | 1971-1972 |
| Graduate Assistant | Oklahoma St. Cowboys | 1970 |
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
