Nominated by several of his former student-athletes, Darren DeAndrade left a lasting impact not only in the realm of competition but on the lives of all those involved in the UMass Dartmouth track and field programs. He was a beloved mentor to countless Corsairs and high school students in the southeastern Massachusetts area, coaching the sport for over 30 years prior to his passing in May.

DeAndrade joined the UMass Dartmouth coaching staff in 2009, reuniting with head coach Steve Gardiner – his former high school coach – and quickly established the Corsairs as a perennial track and field power. During DeAndrade’s tenure, the Corsair men claimed three New England Alliance titles, including both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2012 and the indoor crown in 2014. Working primarily in the field events, DeAndrade guided his athletes to 11 school records and 76 of the top-10 performances in program history in the throwing and jumping events. He was instrumental in developing six NCAA Division III national qualifiers in the field events, including three All-Americans in Krista Chauvin (hammer throw), Kevin Cutler (high jump) and Adam Jones (high jump).

Prior to joining the Corsair staff, DeAndrade was the head coach at Old Rochester Regional High School from 1993 to 2000, transforming the Bulldogs into a regional contender after first entering the coaching ranks as Gardiner’s assistant at New Bedford High School. He and Gardiner first crossed paths at New Bedford High in 1979 during DeAndrade’s sophomore year. Gardiner went on to coach DeAndrade in the high jump, with the Whalers claiming Class A titles in all three of his seasons. After serving as team captain in 1982, he attended UMass Dartmouth (then Southeastern Massachusetts University) for a brief time before entering the Marine Corps.