Daren Wilkinson was named the 11th head coach and 10th full-time head coach in Texas A&M University-Kingsville history on December 15, 2014 and formally introduced on December 22, 2014. Wilkinson took over the historic Javelina football program after two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at CSU-Pueblo.
In his fourth season, the Javelinas finished 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the LSC yet again, end the season with two wins in the final three weeks of play.
TAMUK dropped a double-overtime decision at 37-36 to 2018 NCAA Division II National Champion and No. 1-ranked A&M-Commerce on August 30 to start the season. The program followed up with a 52-10 victory over Texas Wesleyan on September 8 with three Hogs combining for five touchdowns on the ground. Nick Pelrean led the way with 111 yards and two scores, matched by Luis Lopez’s two touchdowns along with 40 yards, while Jeff Carr posted 93 yards and one score to round out the group.
The second win of the year came in the form of a 33-30 victory over New Mexico Highlands on September 29 as Koy Detmer Jr. connected with Donovan Moore at the 4:23 mark of the fourth quarter to put the Javelinas up for good. Detmer Jr. finished with 296 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while Carr and Pelrean both added one score on the ground.
The Hogs righted the ship on October 27 with a 37-34 win over Western New Mexico as Detmer Jr. led the charge with three touchdowns and 249 yards on the offensive side of the ball. Pelrean and Carr once again served as the one-two punch on the ground as Pelrean accounted for 153 yards in the victory.
The final win of the season came in the final week as TAMUK bested UT Permain Basin at 24-21 thanks to a last-second interception from Sean Landez at the Javelina 19 yard line. Landez cut off the pass from UTPB’s Kameron Mathis with three seconds to play to seal the win while Detmer Jr. was responsible for all three scores as he finished with 249 yards and three touchdowns on the game.
Following the season, Brent Hertel became the fifth Javelina in the Wilkinson era to be named to the Don Hansen All-America team as he was an honorable mention for the Blue and Gold. Hertel was also the lone representative on the Don Hansen All-Super Region IV second team and ended up on the All-LSC second team as a fullback.
Torrey Thomas was the lone Hog on the All-LSC first team as he completed his tenure in the Blue and Gold with three consecutive All-LSC selections.
The Javelinas who ended up All-LSC honorable mention after 2018 included Brandon Jones, Tre’Michael Tutt, Jordan Semanat, Payton Hendrix, Devonte Williams, Sean Landez, Koy Detmer Jr., Nick Pelrean, Tyler Wilson and Julio De La Garza.
In Wilkinson’s third season, TAMUK came away with a 4-7 overall mark coupled with a 2-6 record in LSC games. The Javelinas claimed their first win of the season at 35-7 over Simon Fraser on September 9 as Jordan Thomas caught two touchdowns and ran for another in the decision. Cade Dyal ended up with three scores and 194 yards through the air while Nick Pelrean rushed for one touchdown and 111 yards on the ground.
Dyal added another three touchdown passes in the Hogs’ second win of the season, a 37-9 victory over LSC foe West Texas A&M on October 7. He finished with 249 yards as he connected with Jordan Thomas, Torrey Thomas and Stehly Reden once each for a score while Marcus Younger added a rushing touchdown. Caleb Valentine added a defensive score to complete the win for the Blue and Gold as he ran a fumble back for six yards late in the second quarter to put the hosts up 21-9.
TAMUK added a 47-21 thrashing of UT Permian Basin the following week on October 14 with Dyal throwing for 367 yards and three scores once again. Two of those touchdown passes went to Jordan Thomas while the other was snagged by Marcus Younger. Pelrean added two touchdowns on the ground alongside 94 yards while Jeff Carr scampered for a one of his own halfway through the opening quarter.
The Javelinas closed the season on a high note with a 38-34 last-minute win over William Jewell on November 8 as Jordan Thomas caught his third touchdown pass of the game with one minute remaining to put the Hogs up for good. Dyal once again added three touchdowns on 262 yards through the air while Carr had the lone score on the ground for the Javelinas to take the win.
Following the season, Jordan Thomas headlined the list of 13 Javelinas named to the All-LSC teams as he was the first LSC Receiver of the Year honoree for the program since Maurice Washington gathered the honor following the 2003 season. He was also a First Team All-LSC selection, landed on the D2CCA All-Super Region IV second team and brought home a Don Hansen All-America honorable mention nod to complete his final year in the Blue and Gold.
Reden joined Jordan Thomas as other All-LSC first team honoree as a tight end while Stuart Sanchez was the lone Javelina on the All-LSC second team.
10 Hogs gathered All-LSC honorable mention accolades to round out those honored from Wilkinson’s squad, including Nick Pelrean, Torrey Thomas, Julio De La Garza, Brandon Jones, Caleb Valentine, Trevor Moses, Braedon Robinson, DeMarcus Spurlock, Devonte Williams and George Rios.
Wilkinson had one of the most impressive turnaround seasons in the NCAA regardless of Division in 2016, turning a 2-9 program to a 9-3 team in his second year at the helm to go with a postseason victory at the Fourth Annual Agent Barry Live United Bowl over Southern Arkansas.
Along with a Harlon Hill finalist in Brandon Jones, the Javelinas won 23 Lone Star Conference postseason accolades, including Wilkinson receiving Coach of the Year honors, Jones earning the J.V. Sikes Award, awarded to the top defensive player, and Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Myles Carr collecting the J.W. Rollins Award for the top offensive player in the league. Jones and Stehly Reden, two of eight All-LSC first team selections, appeared on the Division II Conference Commissioners (D2CCA) All-South Central Region teams. Carr finished his two-year Javelina career second in passing touchdowns but did set a new single season record in passing TDs and total TDs, and Reden became the leader in touchdowns for a tight end. Anthony Autry appeared on the All-LSC First Team in back-to-back seasons.
The Javelinas ended the season on a seven-game win streak, six in the conference, the second longest win streak to end the season in the Lone Star State. A&M-Kingsville ended the regular season third in the LSC standings after being picked to finish in the bottom three.
Wilkinson led Texas A&M-Kingsville to two wins in his first year in 2015, including a 43-25 victory in the 2015 Lone Star Conference Playoffs at Tarleton State University (Nov. 7). Quoted as saying “this first season, we were teaching the team how to compete,” the Hogs did just that, with six games decided by 10 or fewer points. In his inaugural game as a head coach, the Javelinas nearly upset NCAA Division I foe Incarnate Word on September 5, before falling 18-16 on a blocked extra-point that fell into the kicker’s hand and was converted for two points.
All in all, 13 Javelinas earned All-Lone Star Conference selections, including first team wideout Anthony Autry. Bo Villarreal and Daniel Ramirez also appeared on the Don Hansen All-Super Region Four squad as an offensive lineman and fullback/tight end, respectively.
The following week, he earned his first victory with a 38-20 win in his home debut over Missouri S&T on September 12. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he put an emphasis on running the football and playing a pro-style offense, and the win over the Miners featured just that and quarterback Myles Carr, wide receiver Autry and running back Shawn Vasquez combined for six touchdowns. Autry finished with 125 receiving yards and two touchdowns, the first two-touchdown performance for a receiver since Robert Armstrong’s game on November 16, 2013. Vasquez added 116 rushing yards and two scores.
In the conference opener, the Javelinas hosted No. 22/22 A&M-Commerce and Jordan Thomas caught eight passes for 173 yards and Braedon Robinson showed his athleticism, returning a 48-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, the first of his career. Lamont Hills added a 14-yard tackle for a loss in the near upset.
Closing out the three-game home stand hosting West Alabama and dangerous specialist Tyreek Hill – who ended up going to the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft – Texas A&M-Kingsville nearly overcame a two-touchdown deficit with a furious comeback that was highlighted by the Javelina defense limiting the Tigers to 3-of-16 in third-down conversion. Carr threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns and the Hogs cut UWA’s lead to six with 7:34 remaining in the game.
The Javelinas scored 30-plus points in three consecutive conference bouts before putting up 40-plus in two of the final three games of the season, including a win over Tarleton that featured All-LSC honorable mention Greg Pitre run for 186 yards on 28 carries. In the season finale, the then junior running back rushed for a career-high 226 yards and added 52 receiving yards and two scores.
Prior to him joining the Javelinas, Wilkinson was the offensive coordinator for 2014 NCAA Division II National Champion CSU-Pueblo. The Thunder Wolves finished the 2014 season 14-1 overall and No. 1 nationally after earning the school's first ever NCAA Division II Football Championship, defeating previously unbeaten and top-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato. Three offensive players, including running back Cameron McDondle earned Daktronics All-Super Region 4 honors as CSU-Pueblo earned its fourth consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference crown and reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the fourth straight season.
In just their seventh season since reinstating football, CSU-Pueblo averaged nearly 35 points per game and 400 yards per game. Under his guidance, quarterback Chris Bonner was propelled to All-America honorable mention honors in 2013 and ranked 18th in the nation in 2014 with 30 passing touchdowns.
Three offensive players, including running back Cameron McDondle earned Daktronics All-Super Region 4 honors as Colorado State-Pueblo earned its fourth consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference crown and reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the fourth straight season. Four offensive players were named to the Don Hansen All-Super Region 4 team.
In his first season as offensive coordinator for CSUP, Wilkinson guided the Thunder Wolves to 509.3 yards of offense per game and 42.7 points per contest, ranked sixth and seventh nationally, respectively. Bonner received all-region accolades by tallying 33 touchdowns, seventh most in the country.
Before he joined CSU-Pueblo, Wilkinson spent four seasons as the quarterbacks coach and assistant recruiting coordinator for NCAA Division I program and his alma mater, Colorado State. Serving under Rams coach Steve Fairchild from 2008-12, he helped lead the program to the New Mexico Bowl championship in 2008. That season, his offense ranked in the top 40 nationally and former CSU quarterback Billy Farris went on to play in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009. While at CSU, his recruiting areas included San Diego, North Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and all quarterback prospects.
In 2004, he joined the South Dakota State football coaching staff as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach. While there, he helped SDSU have a smooth transition to Division I as the team had a winning record each season he led the offense, culminating in the 2007 Great West Conference championship. Spending four seasons as the offensive signal caller for SDSU, he coached the quarterback that set the school’s all-time passing record and defeated the No. 1 team in the nation in 2007. South Dakota State finished with a winning record in his four seasons.
Joining the NCAA Division II ranks as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Fayetteville State University (N.C.) in 2001, Wilkinson coached two all-conference receivers and assisted the team in earning back-to-back CIAA Conference titles in 2002-03 and a NCAA Division II playoff berth in 2002.
Wilkinson has coached for 15 years at the collegiate level, beginning as an offensive graduate assistant at Colorado State in 1997 and 1998 after quarterbacking the Rams for two seasons, leading them to the 1995 Western Athletic Conference title. He then served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Eastern Arizona College from 1999-00.
While at Eastern Arizona, he recruited and coached six players that went on to play NCAA Division I football and led the squad to an upset win over the No. 1 team in the nation. As an offensive graduate assistant for the Rams, he helped lead the team to the 1997 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship and Holliday Bowl Championship. In his three seasons as a GA, he worked with two quarterbacks that earned conference player of the year honors.
As a player, Wilkinson started seven games for Colorado State in 1995 as a junior, leading the Rams to a share of the WAC title. Joining the Rams after a sensational playing career at Ricks Junior College (now BYU-Idaho), he went 21-2 as a starter and was crowned the College Sports Magazine Junior College Player of the Year in 1994. That season, he earned first team All-American honors, leading the squad to an 11-0 mark and throwing for over 3,000 yards en route to the school’s all-time passing record.
Growing up in Valley Center, Calif., Wilkinson was a two-sport athlete at Orange Glen High School, lettering in both basketball and football. He earned second team all-conference honors on the gridiron.
Born Feb. 11, 1972, in Corona, Calif., he owns two degrees from Colorado State, a bachelors in psychology (‘97) and a master’s in education (‘99). He and his wife Ann have three children, Alexa, Macy and Jet.
| The Wilkinson File |
| Personal |
| Wife |
Ann |
| Children |
Alexa, Macy and Jet |
| Birthdate |
Feb. 11, 1972 |
| Hometown |
Valley Center, Calif. |
| Education |
| High School |
Orange Glen HS |
| Associate's |
Ricks JC (BYU-Idaho), '94 |
| Bachelor's |
Colorado State, '97 |
| Master's |
Colorado State, '99 |
| Coaching History |
| 1997-98 |
Colorado State, Offensive Graduate Assistant |
| 1999 |
Eastern Arizona, Passing Game Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach |
| 2000 |
Eastern Arizona, Offensive Coordinator |
| 2001-03 |
Fayetteville State (N.C.), Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach |
| 2004-07 |
South Dakota State, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach |
| 2008-12 |
Colorado State, Quarterbacks Coach / Assistant Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2013-14 |
CSU-Pueblo, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach |
| 2015-Pres. |
Texas A&M-Kingsville, Head Coach |
| Honors |
| 2016 |
Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year |
| 2014 |
NCAA Division-II National Champion (CSU-Pueblo) |
| Year by Year |
| Year |
Record (LSC Finish) |
Postseason Bid / Results |
| 2015 |
2-9, 0-6 LSC (7th) |
N/A |
| 2016 |
9-3, 6-3 LSC (3rd) |
Live United Bowl vs South Arkansas (W, 24-17) |
| 2017 |
4-7, 2-6 LSC (7th) |
N/A |
| 2018 |
4-7, 2-6 LSC (7th) |
N/A |
| Totals |
19-26, 10-21 LSC |
1 Bowl Bid |
