Coach Darling joined the Beaver football staff as a graduate assistant in the summer of 2025 after a 3-year career as a player for the Beavers.
In three seasons on the gridiron, Darling played in 15 games for the Beavers at tight end, including 10 games during the 2024 season. He caught 4 passes for 61 yards and added 2 solo tackles on special teams.