Darren Tighe is an American college basketball coach, currently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Mary.
Tighe received his bachelor's degree in English studies and his master's degree in teaching from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
His first coaching job was as an assistant at Bethany Lutheran College from 2007 until 2011. He then spent time coaching at the high school ranks, first as the head coach at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School for one year, then as an assistant at Redwood Valley High School.
In 2014, Tighe was named the head coach at Ridgewater College in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota. In his three seasons at Ridgewater, he led the Warriors to a 48âÂÂ34 record. During the 2015âÂÂ16 season, the Warriors won the MCAC Region 13 Consolation Championship.
Tighe was then hired as the head coach at Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota. In his 6 seasons at Mayville State, the Comets achieved an overall record of 76âÂÂ30. In his first three seasons, the Comets won three straight NSAA tournament championships. The Comets also won the NSAA regular season championship during the 2020âÂÂ21 season. Following the 2020âÂÂ21 season, Tighe would be announced as the North Star Athletic Association Coach of the Year. On October 31, 2022, Tighe resigned effective immediately just two games into the 2022âÂÂ23 season.
In 2023, Tighe was hired as the head coach at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. He spent two seasons with the Trojans, compiling an overall record of 29âÂÂ30 (10âÂÂ17 in the NSAA).
On April 8, 2025 it was announced that Tighe would be the next head coach at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.