Darrell Perkins is a seasoned collegiate football coach with more than two decades of experience developing defensive backfields and mentoring student-athletes across multiple programs. He has coached in a variety of defensive roles at institutions including UConn, Fordham, Old Dominion, Maryland, UMass, and Ball State. Most recently, Perkins served as the Cornerbacks Coach at Ball State for the 2024 season.

Earlier in his career, Perkins brought impact to the secondary at UMass, where the defense ranked among the top 10 nationally in passing defense, and at UConn, where his units helped the Huskies compete in Big East titles and bowl games. He has also held co-Defensive Coordinator duties and coached future NFL players at multiple stops.

A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Perkins played running back for the Cowboys before beginning his coaching career. His breadth of experience across defensive coaching positions and conferences reflects a deep commitment to player development, defensive performance, and leadership.