USF Athletics

Years In Coaching: 32nd
Years at USF: 2nd
Alma Mater: West Texas A&M, 1995
Family: Wife: Tracie; Daughters: Hailey and Aubrey; Son: Colton
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
 
NOTABLE:
• More than 23 Hiller pupils have moved on to the NFL in his coaching career.

Darren Hiller joined head coach Brian Hartline’s first USF staff as senior lead analyst in February of 2026.

A veteran of more than 30 years of collegiate coaching, Hiller returned to South Florida where he had previously served as co-offensive coordinator/run game coordinator/offensive line coach during the 2016 season as the Bulls went 11-2.

He returned to USF after serving as assistant offensive line coach at Auburn.

BEFORE SOUTH FLORIDA
INDIANA: Hiller spent six seasons as Indiana’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach from 2017-22. He Mentored tackle Caleb Jones, a 2022 free-agent signing of Green Bay; center Harry Crider, a 2021 free-agent signing of Philadelphia; right guard Simon Stepaniak, a sixth-round selection by Green Bay in the 2020 NFL Draft; left guard Wes Martin, a fourth-round selection by Washington in the 2019 NFL Draft; and right tackle Brandon Knight, a 2019 free-agent signing of Dallas.
 
He Coached eight All-Big Ten Hoosiers, including 2021 honorable-mention guard Matthew Bedford, and Crider, a 2020 honorable-mention selection and the school’s 10th Academic All-American.
 
IU led the league (T-17th nationally) in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.25) in 2020.
 
Despite using five different line combinations and three left tackles in 2019, the Hoosiers set a program mark with 3,931 passing yards, and finished third with 5,626 total yards and 413 points. Indiana was second in the conference in passing offense (302.4, 15th nationally) and first downs (23.4, T-20th), third in total offense (432.8) and time of possession (33:44, 7th), and fifth in scoring offense (31.8).
 
Martin earned honorable-mention All-B1G for the second-consecutive season, was a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, claimed his third-straight Academic All-District honor, and collected his fourth-consecutive Academic All-Big Ten accolade in 2018.
 
That same year, IU ranked second in the Big Ten and shared 24th nationally in first downs per game (23.5), finished third in the conference (36th nationally) in passing offense (257.8), and tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (20).
 
Knight joined Martin with 2018 honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition.
 
In 2017, Martin recorded the most pass blocking snaps (569) among guards nationally without allowing a sack.
 
SOUTH FLORIDA: Hiller spent 2016 as co-offensive coordinator, run game coordinator, and offensive line coach at the University of South Florida. The USF offense ranked fourth nationally in scoring (43.8), fifth in rushing (285.3), and 11th in total offense (511.5). His line led the American Athletic Conference and ranked 14th nationally, allowing just 15 sacks in 13 games.
 
South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers rushed for 100-plus yards in six games and running back Marlon Mack rushed for 100-plus yards five times.The Bulls scored 30-plus points in all 13 games and established program records for points (569), touchdowns (77), total yardage (6,650), rushing yardage (3,714), and rushing TDs (47).
 
CINCINNATI: From 2013-15, Hiller coached the offensive line at the University of Cincinnati. Behind the top-three offensive campaigns in school history, the Bearcats won the 2014 American championship and appeared in three bowl games. UC produced over 5,900 total yards, 3,900 passing yards, and 2,000 rushing yards each season during Hiller’s tenure.
 
Cincinnati set 18 program offensive records in 2015, including total offense (6,690), passing yardage (4,679), and first downs (370). The Bearcats ranked sixth nationally in total offense and averaged 33.8 points per game. Hiller’s 2014 offensive line ranked third nationally with just 3.4 tackles for loss allowed per game.
 
NEVADA: With the University of Nevada in 2012, the Wolfpack’s rushing attack finished seventh in the country.
 
ARKANSAS STATE: Oversaw 16 All-Sun Belt Conference players, five NFL Draft selections, and five NFL free agents in his decade at Arkansas State University (2002-11). The Red Wolves earned a pair of conference championships, including a 10-2 record and a GoDaddy.com Bowl appearance in 2011.
 
NORTHWESTERN STATE:  Prior to Arkansas State, Hiller spent 2001 at Northwestern State University. He tutored two All-Southland Conference players and helped the team advance to the I-AA playoffs.
 
ARKANSAS at MONTICELLO: At the University of Arkansas at Monticello (1999-2000), the team finished in the Top 5 of Division II in total and scoring offense and broke 30 program offensive records. Four players earned All-Gulf South Conference recognition.
 
WEST TEXAS A&M: Hiller began his coaching career at his alma mater from 1994-98. He assisted the program to the No. 1 ranked offense nationally and guided nine All-Lone Star Conference players. He began as a student assistant and moved to offensive line coach in his final three seasons, 1996-98.

PLAYING CAREER
A two-year starter at offensive guard and team captain at West Texas A&M (previously West Texas State).
 
PERSONAL
Darren and his wife, Tracie, have two daughters, Hailey and Aubrey, and one son, Colton.
 
COACHING CAREER
2026-            South Florida                   Senior Lead Analyst
2025              Auburn                             Assistant Offensive Line Coach
2024              Auburn                             Analyst – Offensive Line
2017-22         Indiana                             Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
2016              South Florida                   Co-Offensive Coordinator/Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
2013-15         Cincinnati                         Offensive Line Coach
2012              Nevada                             Offensive Line Coach
2002-11         Arkansas State                 Offensive Line Coach
2001              Northwestern State           Offensive Line Coach
1999-2000     Arkansas-Monticello         Offensive Line Coach
1996-98         West Texas A&M              Offensive Line Coach
1995              West Texas A&M              Graduate Assistant
1994              West Texas A&M              Student Assistant