Darren Tighe is an American college basketball coach, currently the head men's basketball coach at Dakota State University.[1]

Darren Tighe
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamDakota State
ConferenceNSAA
Record21–16 (.568)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2007–11Bethany Lutheran (assistant)
2011–12JWP HS
2012–14Redwood Valley HS (assistant)
2014–17Ridgewater JC
2017–22Mayville State
2023–presentDakota State
Head coaching record
Overall161–92 (.636)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 NSAA tournament (2018, 2019, 2020)
NSAA regular season (2021)
Awards
NSAA Coach of the Year (2021)

Tighe received his bachelor's degree in English studies and his master's degree in teaching from Minnesota State University, Mankato. His first coaching job was as an assistant at Bethany Lutheran College from 2007 until 2011. He then spent time coaching at the high school ranks, first as the head coach at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School for one year, then as an assistant at Redwood Valley High School.

In 2014, Tighe was named the head coach at Ridgewater College in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota.[2][3] In his three seasons at Ridgewater, he led the Warriors to a 48–34 record. During the 2015–16 season, the Warriors won the MCAC Region 13 Consolation Championship.

Tighe was then hired as the head coach at Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota.[4] In his 6 seasons at Mayville State, the Comets achieved an overall record of 76–30. In his first three seasons, the Comets won three straight NSAA tournament championships. The Comets also won the NSAA regular season championship during the 2020–21 season. Following the 2020–21 season, Tighe would be announced as the North Star Athletic Association Coach of the Year.[5] On October 31, 2022, Tighe resigned effective immediately just two games into the 2022–23 season.[6]

In 2023, Tighe was hired as the head coach at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota.[7]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Ridgewater JC (Minnesota College Athletic Conference) (2014–2017)
2014–15 Ridgewater JC 9–18
2015–16 Ridgewater JC 22–8
2016–17 Ridgewater JC 17–8
Ridgewater JC: 48–34 (.585)
Mayville State University (North Star Athletic Association) (2017–2022)
2017–18 Mayville State 18–11 8–8 T–4th NAIA DII first round
2018–19 Mayville State 20–9 9–5 T–3rd NAIA DII first round
2019–20 Mayville State 24–5 11–3 2nd postseason cancelled
2020–21 Mayville State 14–5 10–3 1st
2021–22 Mayville State 16–10 8–6 T–3rd
2022–23 Mayville State 0–2
Mayville State: 92–42 (.687) 46–25 (.648)
Dakota State University (North Star Athletic Association) (2023–present)
2023–24 Dakota State 17–13 6–6 T–3rd
2024–25 Dakota State 4–3 0–0
Dakota State: 21–16 (.568) 6–6 (.500)
Total: 161–92 (.636)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ "Darren Tighe". dsuathletics.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. ^ Middleton, Rand (June 30, 2014). "Darren Tighe is named men's hoops coach at Ridgewater". West Central Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Tighe Reaches 100 Wins in Coaching Career". msucomets.com. Mayville, ND. January 20, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Darren Tighe". msucomets.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Huntimer, Nick (March 1, 2021). "2020-21 NSAA Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards". playnorthstar.com. Bismarck, ND. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "McGruder named interim head men's basketball coach at Mayville State". msucomets.com. Mayville, ND. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Darren Tighe Hired as Trojans New Men's Head Basketball Coach". KJAM. Retrieved November 12, 2024.