Darnel Richardson enters his 16th season on the Duquesne coaching staff in 2025 and features over two decades of college coaching experience.
A McKeesport, Pa. native, Richardson was part of Duquesne's 1993 coaching staff alongside current head coach Jerry Schmitt and defensive coordinator Dave Opfar. He returned to the program in 2010 to coach defensive backs, later transitioning to receivers in 2013 and 2014 before moving back to defense in 2015.
Richardson has played a pivotal role in shaping Duquesne’s defense. In 2019, his defensive backs helped the Dukes lead the Northeast Conference (NEC) and rank seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in pass defense, allowing just 168.8 passing yards per game. That season, Duquesne also finished 10th nationally in total defense (298.4 ypg). Under his guidance, cornerback Reid Harrison-Ducros earned First Team All-NEC honors, ranking second in the conference with four interceptions.
During the Dukes’ 2018 NEC championship season — where they made their second-ever FCS Playoff appearance and secured their first FCS Playoff victory — Richardson coached a pair of All-NEC defensive backs: First Team corner Jonathan Istache and safety Brandon Stanback. Istache finished fourth in the nation in passes defended, leading the NEC in interceptions and pass breakups.
Richardson has mentored multiple All-NEC selections in previous seasons, including:
- 2024: First Team defensive back Antonio Epps and second team corner DJ Cerisier
- 2017: First Team corner Abner Roberts (2nd in NEC with four interceptions) and Istache (team-high 12 passes defended).
- 2016: Roberts (All-NEC), helping Duquesne rank first in the NEC and 30th nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (190.5 ypg).
- 2015: Trenton Coles (All-NEC), as Duquesne finished second in the NEC in interceptions (16) en route to an NEC title and the program’s first FCS Playoff berth. Coles later received an invitation to the Kansas City Chiefs' rookie camp.
- 2011: Safety Serge Kona (Third Team AP All-American), leading a Dukes secondary that topped the nation in pass defense (139.3 ypg) and ranked sixth in pass efficiency defense (100.5).
In addition to his defensive expertise, Richardson also coached Duquesne’s receivers in 2013 and 2014, guiding the unit to lead the NEC in receptions and receiving yards per game.
Before returning to Duquesne, Richardson spent eight seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Saint Francis (Pa.) under Opfar. Prior to that, he served as offensive coordinator at West Virginia State for five years, coaching six First Team All-WVIAC players.
Richardson began his college coaching career at Duquesne in 1993 as a running backs coach under Greg Gattuso. He later moved to Robert Morris, where he coached wide receivers and tight ends while also serving as head JV coach under Joe Walton.
As a player, Richardson starred at South Allegheny High School, leading the team to the 1977 WPIAL title and earning WPIAL Class AA Player of the Year honors. He went on to play at Marshall, where he led the Herd in receptions as a junior and senior (1980 & 1981). He completed his degree at Marshall in 1996.
Richardson has two children, Lindsey and Anthony.
