Kurtis Darden was announced in late May 2023 as the next assistant coach for the UTSA Roadrunners men’s basketball team under head coach Steve Henson. Darden is the Roadrunners’ rebounding coordinator and works directly with the bigger wing players.
"We are excited to announce the addition of Kurtis to our staff," Henson said at the time. "He has had a lot of success in his career, on and off the court. In addition to his knowledge of the game, we are really excited about his ability to connect with student-athletes. He has a proven history of excellent relationships with his players and former players."Darden joined the Roadrunners staff after one season as the director of basketball operations at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. The Camels reached the Big South Championship Game this past season.
"I'm humbled and honored to join the basketball staff and Roadrunner Family," Darden said. "I would like to thank Coach Henson for this opportunity. I've come to know him over the years and have a tremendous respect for the way he runs his program. I look forward to working with the coaching staff, the team and across the athletic department as we transition into the American conference. San Antonio is a special place and my family and I are excited to be a part of the University and this community."
Prior to taking on his first operations role, Darden built up an extensively successful coaching career at the high school level in his hometown of Fayetteville, N.C. Over the course of 12 seasons, Darden's teams racked up a 243-83 record. He joined the Campbell staff fresh off two seasons as head coach at Freedom Christian Academy. Prior to FCA, Darden led Village Christian Academy as head coach since 2010, producing back-to-back NCISAA 2-A state titles in 2016 and 2017 – along with a pair of state runner-up finishes. Darden has been named the 2017 Cape Fear Region Coach of the Year and was a three-time conference Coach of the Year, also selected as head coach of the East squad in the 2019 NCISSA Private School All-Star Game.
Making a name for himself in the Fayetteville community since playing at Seventy-First High School before joining the Campbell Camels ahead of the 1999-2000 season. After one season he transferred to Pfeiffer, graduated in 2003 with a degree in Communications Studies, and was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force.
As an active-duty officer, Darden continued his basketball journey by playing for the All-Air Force team from 2005-08. His teams won the Armed Forces Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008. That's where Darden first cut his teeth in the coaching world, serving as an assistant coach of the 2011 All-Air Force team that also won the Armed Forces Championship.
Lt. Col. Darden is a veteran who continues to serve his country as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) reservist assigned to the Air Force Services Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
Darden also has an extensive educational background, earning a master's degree in Physical Education from UNC Pembroke, as well as working through programs in Services Management at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Squadron Officer College and Air Command and Staff College.