Darnell to be inducted into USC Hall of Fame

Darnell (right) with Dana Corcoran

By Shelby Rosen

Steve Darnell, who developed USC into one of the best club 7s teams in the nation, will be inducted into the Gamecock Rugby Hall of Fame on April 18. 

Darnell was born in Lowell, North Carolina. In high school, sports were not part of his life. That changed when he attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. A flyer advertising a rugby interest meeting caught his eye. Curious, he decided to attend—a decision that would shape the rest of his life. 

The team had been started by Tim McNally, who was known for launching programs and then moving on to start new ones elsewhere. Like many of his teammates, Darnell had never played before, so they learned the game together. At 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, he began as a hooker before transitioning to scrum half after a year—a position he would hold for the rest of his playing career. 

He graduated in 1979 with a degree in art education and remained at UNC Greensboro to pursue his master’s degree. During that time, he began coaching the very team that had introduced him to rugby. 

Darnell played for 12 years, competing with the Greensboro Griffins, serving as a founding member of the Triad Dogs, playing summer 7s with the Greensboro Olde Boys, and later joining the over-30 touring side, the Greensboro Used to Be’s. Rugby became a defining part of his identity. 

Coaching soon became his passion. He coached his daughters in soccer and introduced his son to rugby, eventually starting a rugby program at Chapin High School, where he coached for two years. After his son graduated, Darnell was invited to coach at USC alongside Mark Morris—giving him the opportunity to coach his son once again. 

He began as a B-side coach, moved into coaching 7s, and eventually became head coach for both the 15s and 7s teams. Alongside coaching, Darnell worked as an art teacher and even taught at USC for six years. While there, he was invited to coach the women’s team but declined due to the demands of raising young children. 

Dana Corcoran, a rugby alum, said that when he “thinks of Gamecock rugby, [he] thinks of” Darnell—a testament to the culture he built. Darnell’s approach was deeply player-centered. He placed athletes in roles where they could have the greatest impact and encouraged their input. He emphasized risk-taking, viewing mistakes as opportunities for growth and crediting wins to the collective effort. 

He built his teams on a foundation of defense and fitness, but his greatest strength was connection. One of his favorite aspects of coaching was the time spent with players—traveling together and hosting gatherings at his home. This sense of community is what he misses most. 

Darnell’s coaching career is filled with accomplishments, including earning an outstanding coaching award, defeating Clemson in a collegiate rugby championship, and leading an undefeated 7s season. One of his proudest moments came when he missed a tournament due to his father-in-law’s funeral. With a CRC berth on the line, the players coached themselves—and won. For Darnell, it was a powerful demonstration of their maturity and leadership. 

Eventually, he stepped down from coaching to spend more time with his grandchildren. Today, he works at Midlands Technical College and is the proud father of three children: August, Aliza, and Avery.