Jordan Darling became Miami University head soccer coach Courtney Sirmans' first assistant coach hire in March, 2018.
Darling works with the RedHawks’ goalkeepers while also heading the program’s recruiting efforts in the Midwest. He also breaks down film and is an integral part of scouting Miami’s opponents.
In 2019, Darling helped ready sophomore Izzie Vaccari for her first Division I campaign after she transferred over from Fairmont State. The sophomore played in 17 of the team’s 18 contests with 16 starts and finished second in the MAC with an .826 save percentage and a MAC-leading 119 saves. Between Vaccari and the 2018 freshman performance of Lauren Parker, Darling has the RedHawks’ goalkeeping position in excellent shape going forward.
During his first season in Oxford, Darling helped the RedHawks withstand the loss of all-conference goaltender Patricia Koutoulas in the middle of the season. Faced with bringing in Lauren Parker in her first season on campus, Parker responded by making 49 saves in eight matches (seven starts). That included a school-record 18 stops in her first career start against Western Michigan.
Prior to joining the RedHawks, Darling spent four seasons on Memphis’ coaching staff. While at Memphis, Darling helped the Tigers go a collective 42-25-11 with a 21-8-7 record in the American Athletic Conference while working primarily with their goalkeepers. He also was involved in opponent scouting and match preparations while creating and coaching individual sessions with players and assisting with Memphis’ soccer camps and the team’s community service initiatives. In 2016, Memphis finished 14-5-1 and earned an at large berth to the NCAA Tournament, where it took a 1-0 lead over No. 17 Arkansas into the 88th minute before dropping a heartbreaker in overtime.
In addition to his work with the Tigers, Darling has an extensive coaching history at the club level. He spent three years (2015-17) as a coach with the Collierville Lobos Rush Soccer Club, serving as head coach for the ‘01 girls select team in 2016 and 2017. He also helped the Lobos’ ‘99 boys premier team capture a Tennessee State Championship in 2015-16 as an assistant coach.
Prior to his stint with Collierville, Darling coached the Oxford Soccer Club U12 girls (2012-14) and U14 girls (2013-15) in Oxford, Mississippi. He was named Mississippi Northern District Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Soccer Association in the 2014-15 season after guiding Oxford SC to Division 2 and 3 state titles.
Darling also possesses a wealth of playing experience, playing for TFC United in Tupelo, Miss., Clinton FC and Brandon FC in Jackson, Miss. and the Tennessee Rush Soccer Club in Memphis, Tenn. During his playing days, he was invited to travel with Buckhead United, playing in Scotland and Wales in the summer of 2006 as well as in Holland in 2007 for People to People Sports program.
Darling earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Memphis in 2017 and is working on a Master’s in Education in the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership Program from the University of Washington. He holds a USSF National D Coaching License and an NSCAA Level 1 and Level 2 Goalkeeper License.
