Darren is a graduate of Ballard High School, and has returned to his former high school as a Secondary Social Studies teacher and also as a coach.  After graduating from Ballard, Darren attended DMACC in Ankeny and obtained his AA degree.  He then transferred to the University of Northern Iowa.  After completing his student teaching at a 3,200 student high school in San Antonio, Texas, Darren received his BA Degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in US History, Economics, and Sociology.  Darren's first teaching job was at the Woodward Academy in Woodward, Iowa, where he worked for 2 years.  In August 1997, Darren was hired by the Ballard High School to run the Success Center, which is an at-risk program and credit recovery system.  While at Ballard, Darren has taught US History, Civics, Government, Economics, Sociology, Political Assassinations, Iowa History, and Constitutional Law.  During the 2001-2002 basketball season, Darren was hired as the head coach for the freshmen women's basketball team.  In this capacity, Darren has helped lead the Ballard women's basketball team to an extremely high level in the state of Iowa.  During the 2004-2005 school year, Darren was hired as the assistant coach for the varsity men's track team.  In this capacity, Darren has helped coach both the sprinters and distance runners to multiple state events and state meets.

In his free time, Darren enjoys riding his bicycle, and he participates in RAGBRAI on a regular basis.  Darren is also an avid long-distance runner and has completed 11 marathons and over 20 half-marathons.  Darren also travels extensively in the summer months, usually through history or social studies internships and fellowships.  Darren is also an avid reader, and he enjoys spending time with his family and his rescue dog, Rufus.