Maverick Darling joined the Iona College cross country and track & field coaching staff as an assistant coach in January of 2018. Entering his fourth season with the Maroon & Gold, Darling will be assisting with the program’s distance runners. The Gaels have won each of the cross country championships, extending their streaks, since Darling came on staff. Since 2018, the Iona's men's program has competed in each of the NCAA Championships. Egle Morenaite is a two-time All-American honoree and John Millar was named an All-American in 2019.
Darling spent time as an assistant coach for the cross country team at Western Kentucky where the men’s team earned its best finish in Conference USA in three years. He was previously a volunteer coach at his alma mater Wisconsin under former Iona coach, Mick Byrne. As a volunteer, the Badgers men’s squad claimed the 2016 Big Ten Cross Country Championship in addition to an eighth place finish at the NCAA Championship meet.
During his time running for Wisconsin, Darling helped the program win its fifth NCAA men's cross country title in 2011. The Michigan native was a two-time All-American in cross country and helped the team win four Big Ten titles and four NCAA Great Lakes Regionals. The 2009 Big Ten Cross Country Freshman of the Year, Darling's best individual finish on the NCAA stage came in 2012 when he finished 11th overall and second for Wisconsin.
On the track, Darling was a three-time All-American as he capped off his career racing for the Cardinal and White with a fourth place finish in the 5,000 meters at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He also won the 10,000 meter race his senior year at the 2013 Big Ten championships and earned All-America honors in the indoor 5,000 meters at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships.
