Darin Edwards, a Miles College graduate, begins his first season at Fordham after seven years with the Sacred Heart football program. He will be in charge of the defensive line for the Rams.

At Sacred Heart, Edwards was responsible for the Pioneer’s tight ends and served as special teams coordinator in 2013 after serving as the outside linebackers coach in 2012, defensive line coach from 2009-2011 and running back coach in 2008.

Last year, Edwards help Sacred Heart to the 2013 Northeast Conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA FCS championships, where the Pioneers fell to Fordham in the first round. Sacred Heart led the NEC in rushing and scoring defense and was second in the NCAA FCS in team tackles for loss and turnovers gained and eighth in team sacks.

Edwards arrived at Sacred Heart after a coaching stint at Iona College, where he worked as the defensive line coach and helped the Gaels finish third in the country in total defense.  The defensive unit also finished fifth in the nation in sacks and seventh in pass defense.

Before his stop at Iona, Edwards spent a season at NEC foe Central Connecticut, where he coached the team’s offensive line before shifting his responsibilities to wide receivers. Edwards was responsible for all aspects of offensive line play in 2006 as the Blue Devils set nine team records on offense.  During the 2005 campaign, Edwards coached the offensive line at Western Connecticut in Danbury where the Colonials led the NJAC in scoring offense and passing offense. His offensive line featured a pair of All-Conference performers.

A 2000 graduate of Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, with a bachelor’s degree in social studies education, Edwards got his coaching start as an assistant at Bristol Central High School in Bristol, Conn.  Edwards played four seasons for his alma mater and also had stints in the North American Football League and National Indoor Football League as well as the Arena 2 League before joining the coaching ranks.