Neumann University Athletics

Charmaine Darden is entering her third year as the Men’s and Women’s Head Cross-Country and Track and Field coach at Neumann University for the 2014-15 seasons.

Last season, the cross country team was highlighted by the women taking first place in the Penn State Brandywine Invitational. Five members of the cross country teams were named to the CSAC All-Academic team.

In Track and Field, Kyree Will-Lear qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in the triple jump.  Both teams had qualifiers compete in the ECAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Before coming to Neumann, Darden was an Assistant Track and Field coach at West Chester University for two years where she coached sprint and middle distance events. While at West Chester, Darden guided the Golden Rams to breaking eight school records, and has placed a total of 33 track athletes on the West Chester University’s All-Time Top Performance List. During the indoor season of 2012, Darden led an athlete to become her first conference champion in the 400m at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship meet.

Before joining the West Chester’s Golden Rams coaching staff, Darden was an Assistant Track and Field coach at Norristown Area High School from 2007-2010 where she coached the distance events. While at Norristown, Darden tutored an athlete to a third place finish at the Pennsylvania State Championship in the boys 800m. Darden was the Head Cross-Country and Assistant Summer Track coach of the Ambler Track Club (AOC) during that time as well.

Within the past seven years, Darden has received two USA Track and Field (USATF) Level II certifications in Endurance and Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays. Darden is also a USATF certified coach. As of the summer of 2014, Darden became a USTFCCCA certified jumps coach.

In 2012, Darden earned her Masters in Public Administration, with a graduate certification in Sport Management and Athletics from West Chester University. In 2007, Darden received her Bachelors degree in Sport Management from Hampton University where she also contributed to a total of nine Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) team championships as a distance runner.