Darren Tighe is entering his 6th season as the head men’s basketball coach at Mayville State University. During his first four years, the Comets have three NSAA Tournament Titles, three NAIA National Tournament Appearances, and one NSAA Regular Season Conference Championship.
In four seasons, Tighe has helped coach the Comets to an overall record of 76-30 (.716).
The abbreviated 2020-21 season was full of obstacles but for the first time since 2007, the Mayville State University Men’s Basketball Team was able to claim the NSAA Regular Season Conference Championship with a record of 14-5 (10-3 Conference). The Comets were led by All-American Selection, NSAA Player of the year, and NSAA 1st Team Selection Latrelle Franklin. John Ketchel was also honored as a member of the NSAA All-Conference 2nd Team. Tighe was also named NSAA Coach of the Year.
In the 2019-20 year, MSU recorded back-to-back 20 win seasons by finishing the year with a 24-5 record and 11-3 second-place finish in the NSAA. The Comets opened the conference tournament with a win over #7 Dakota State 74-59, followed by a win over #3 Viterbo 75-62. In the championship, the #2 Comets defeated #5 Waldorf 65-62 to claim the third straight NSAA Tournament Championship. Max Cooper was named MVP of the NSAA Conference Tournament averaging 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and shooting 58.3 percent from the field.
Max Cooper was named to 1st team All-Conference and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. Jalen Valverde was named to NSAA 2nd team All-Conference. The Comets were in the NAIA Coaches Top-25 for six straight weeks during the season, with the highest rank of 22. The Comets led the conference in Points per Game with 82.0 points per game, Points per Game allowed with 67.7 points per game, Field Goal Percentage Defense allowing 43.1%, and Rebounding with 41.3 rebounds per game and an 11.5 rebounding margin. The Points per Game allowed was also ranked in the top-5 nationally.
The 2018-19 season saw the Comets win 20 games which were the most wins since the 2007 National Runner Up Team coached by Craig Smith (Utah State). The Comets were 9-5 in conference play (most conference wins since 2007), finished in 3rd place in the NSAA (highest conference finish since 2007), and hosted a home playoff game (first time since 2007). The Comets would go on to beat #6 Viterbo, #2 Presentation College, and #1 Bellevue University to win the NSAA Conference Tournament Championship for the second straight year.
The Comets received votes in the NAIA National Poll for 15 straight weeks. Gorg Alhag capped off a stellar two-year career with the Comets by earning Honorable Mention All-American, NSAA 1st Team All-Conference, and NSAA Tournament MVP. Daniel Lindgren finished his 5-year career with the Comets earning a spot on the NSAA 2nd Team All-Conference Team. Gorg Alhag and Daniel Lindgren also became members of the 1,000 point club.
The Comets were just as impressive in the classroom as they were on the court holding a team G.P.A of 3.22 and leading the nation in NAIA Academic All-Americans with six. Those members included: Daniel Lindgren, Jack Turnbull, Michael Slaba, Creighton Pfau, Eric Staebler, and Matthew Slaba.
Throughout the year, the Comet Men’s Basketball team became known throughout the NSAA for its fast-paced unselfish offense. The Comets lead the conference in PPG, Scoring Margin, Field Goal Percentage Offense, 3 PT Field Goal Percentage, Assists Per Game, and Assist to Turnover Ratio. The Comets lead the nation in Assist to Turnover Ratio, were top 10 in Scoring margin and Assists Per Game, and top 25 in Field Goal Percentage Offense, Turnover Margin, Total Assists, and 3 PT FG Made Per Game.
As impressive as the Comets were on offense, the staple of the program that carried over from last year’s National Tournament Team was their defense. The Comets lead the conference in Defensive Points Per Game Allowed and Defensive Rebounds Per Game. The Comets were nationally ranked in the Top 5 in Scoring Defense Per Game, Top 10 in 3 PT FG Percentage Defense, and Top 25 in Defensive Rebounds Per Game, and Field Goal Percentage Defense.
The 2017-18 season was a memorable one Mayville State University men’s basketball under new head coach Darren Tighe. After finishing in last place in 2016-17 and being pre-season picked to finish last in the North Star Athletic Conference, the Comets doubled their previous year’s win total from 9 to 18, were nationally ranked for four weeks (as high as #22), beat nationally ranked Jamestown College (#18) and Bellevue University (#22), and won the NSAA Conference Tournament and advanced to the National Tournament for this first time since 2007.
Gorg Alhag and Daniel Lindgren were named to the NSAA Honorable Mention Team. Michael Slaba, Garek Droog, Daniel Lindgren, and Jacob Eaton were also all named NAIA Academic All-Americans.
Coach Tighe was named the 2018 North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sports Writers Coach of the Year.
Before coming to Mayville State University, Tighe was the head coach at Ridgewater Junior College in Willmar, MN where he led the Warriors to a massive program turnaround. After taking over a team that won just six games the year before, Tighe improved the team's win total to nine wins in year one before helping skyrocket the team to a two-year total of 39-16 over the next two seasons.
The 2015-16 season saw the Warriors etch their names in the Ridgewater record books. The 22-8 Warriors set school records for most regular-season wins in school history (20) and tied the record for most wins in a season (22) with the 1965 Warrior Basketball team. The Warriors finished the year by advancing to the Region 13 Tournament for the first time since 2009 and winning the MCAC Consolation Championship. Akeem Oglesby (Statesboro, GA) and Jack Turnbull (Adelaide, South Australia) were named to the MCAC All-Southern Division Team and the All-MCAC Team. Oglesby was also named to the All-Region 13 Team as well as being named the Region 13 Player of the Year. Oglesby was also awarded the honor of being named 2nd team All American.
The unique and dangerous Warriors offense lead the nation in FT Percentage and were ranked top 5 nationally in 3 Point Field Goals Made, Attempted, and Percentage.
The Ridgewater men's basketball team had another quality year in the 2016-17 season as they finished 17-8 with program-building wins over nationally recognized RCTC, Central Lakes, and St. Cloud Tech. The Warriors once again relied on outside shooting and were ranked nationally in the top 10 for Three Point Field Goals Made, Attempted, and Percentage. Another Ridgewater trademark of taking care of and sharing the basketball shown bright in 2017 with the Warriors nationally ranked in the top 15 in both Assists Per Game and Turnovers Per Game. Oglesby again continued his historic Ridgewater career earning MCAC All-Southern Division honors, All-State MCAC Honors, All-Region Team, and once again was named 2nd Team All-American.
Before coaching at Ridgewater, Tighe spent some time in the high school ranks where coached at taught at Redwood Valley High School. While at Redwood Valley, Tighe assisted head coach Markus Okeson and the Cardinals to a State Tournament appearance in 2013 and a section runner-up finish in 2014. Before that, Tighe spent a year as the head boys’ basketball coach at JWP High School
From 2007-11, Coach Tighe worked with NCAA Division 3 Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN under Head Coach Rick Jeddeloh. Coach Tighe worked his way up the coaching ranks from 2nd assistant his first two years to head assistant in 2010, then to Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach in 2011. During that time, he helped the Vikings reach the conference tournament all four years along with a Conference Championship appearance in 2009. Coach Tighe's responsibilities at Bethany included serving as the recruiting coordinator, head of the tape exchange program, Point Guard, and Defensive Coach, as well as leading the individual skill development program. He also assisted with opponent scouting reports and was the summer assistant camp coordinator. During his tenure, Tighe helped recruit one of the greatest classes in the history of Bethany Lutheran Men’s Basketball. The group included three members of the UMAC All-Defensive Team (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), three members of the UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Team (2011, 2012, 2014), four members of the UMAC All-Conference Team (2010, 2011, 2012), and one conference player of the year (2012).
Darren and his wife Samantha (Physical Education Teacher at Peter Boe Jr Elementary School) live in Mayville with their children Adeline (8), Eli (5), and Piper (2).
Collegiate Head Coaching Record
| Year |
Team |
Overall Record |
|
| 2020-21 |
Mayville State University |
14-5 |
NSAA Regular Season Conference Champions |
| 2019-20 |
Mayville State University |
24-5 |
NSAA Tournament Champions, NAIA National Tournament Appearance |
| 2018-19 |
Mayville State University |
20-9 |
NSAA Tournament Champions, NAIA National Tournament Appearance |
| 2017-18 |
Mayville State University |
18-11 |
NSAA Tournament Champions, NAIA National Tournament Appearance |
| MSU Totals |
4 Seasons |
76-30 (.710) |
|
| 2016-17 |
Ridgewater Junior College |
17-8 |
|
| 2015-16 |
Ridgewater Junior College |
22-8 |
MCAC Region 13 Consolation Champions |
| 2014-15 |
Ridgewater Junior College |
9-18 |
|
| Total |
7 Seasons |
124-64 (.659) |
|
