Darin Edwards is the assistant coach, defensive coordinator, and defensive line coach for Sacred Heart football in Fairfield, Connecticut. He concluded his ninth season in those roles in 2025 and has served the program across two different stints. In his current run with the Pioneers, which began in 2021, he has helped Sacred Heart win the 2021 NEC championship and the 2024 and 2025 Yankee Conference Cup titles while directing one of the conference’s top defenses. Under Edwards, Sacred Heart’s defense led the NEC in scoring defense, total defense, and sacks in 2021. The Pioneers also led the league in passing defense in both 2021 and 2022. During his current time on staff, the defense has produced six All-NEC selections, one All-American in Kevin Peprah, and one All-New England honoree in Salaam Horne. Edwards also previously coached at Sacred Heart from 2008 to 2014, a stretch that included the 2013 NEC championship team.
Before returning to Sacred Heart, Edwards spent six seasons at Columbia as defensive line coach, where he coached nine All-Ivy League selections. His players there included Daniel DeLorenzi, who finished as Columbia’s all-time career sacks leader, and Lord Hyeamang, who later signed an NFL contract with the Los Angeles Rams. Edwards also spent time with the New York Giants as a defensive intern working with the defensive line. Earlier in his coaching career, he coached the defensive line at Fordham and Iona, helped Iona finish third nationally in total defense, worked with the offensive line and wide receivers at Central Connecticut State, and coached the offensive line at Western Connecticut State while helping guide the team to conference-leading production in scoring and passing offense. As a player, Edwards was a four-year letter winner and starter on the offensive line at Miles College, later earning induction into the Miles Hall of Fame in 2010. He also played professionally in the North American Football League, the National Indoor Football League, and Arena 2. Edwards graduated from Miles with a degree in social studies education.
