Darren Studstill
Encyclopedia
Darren Studstill is a former starting quarterback
for West Virginia University
during the 1990s. He was part of the mountaineers undefeated 1993 team. In 1994 he was drafted 191st overall in the 6th round by the Dallas Cowboys
to play in the defensive backfield. He is now pursuing a career in coaching currently at the high school level.
. Both quarterbacks were very talented but with very different skill sets. Kelchner was the prototype pocket quarterback, while Studstill was the all around athletic star. Head coach Don Nehlen
never named a starter it was always very clearly a shared position throughout the tenure of both players.
for one season with the Dallas Cowboys
, and two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars
.
of Royal Palm Beach High School
just one season earlier Studstill was fired in August 2009 just days before the start of training camp for the 2009-2010 season despite great success on the field in his inaugural campaign. He was dismissed partly because he and Principal Guarn Sims differed over the way Studstill handled finances and supervised his assistant coaches, though no one has alleged deliberate wrongdoing by Studstill. In one season under Studstill Royal Palm Beach went 11-2 and reached the regional finals, and he was a finalist for the county's Lou Groza Coach of the Year award. Before being fired Studstill was given at least two opportunities to resign but declined. An official for the school was quoted as saying "In no way is it an attack on his personal or professional character. This is an isolated issue that directly deals with the direction of the football program." He will also retain his position at the school as a disciplinarian.
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
during the 1990s. He was part of the mountaineers undefeated 1993 team. In 1994 he was drafted 191st overall in the 6th round by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
to play in the defensive backfield. He is now pursuing a career in coaching currently at the high school level.
College career
During his college career Studstill was often in a shared playing time situation with Jake KelchnerJake Kelchner
Jake Kelchner is a former starting quarterback for West Virginia University during the 1990s. He was part of the mountaineers undefeated 1993 team...
. Both quarterbacks were very talented but with very different skill sets. Kelchner was the prototype pocket quarterback, while Studstill was the all around athletic star. Head coach Don Nehlen
Don Nehlen
Don Nehlen is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and at West Virginia University . Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 with a career record of 202–128–8 and as the 17th winningest coach in...
never named a starter it was always very clearly a shared position throughout the tenure of both players.
National Football League
Studstill was not considered a pro style quarterback entering the NFL in 1994 because of his inaccuracy. He played defensive backDefensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for one season with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Coaching career
After being named head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of Royal Palm Beach High School
Royal Palm Beach High School
-English:Four Credits of English are required. English 1 is offered all the way up to AP English Language and AP English Literature.-Social Studies:...
just one season earlier Studstill was fired in August 2009 just days before the start of training camp for the 2009-2010 season despite great success on the field in his inaugural campaign. He was dismissed partly because he and Principal Guarn Sims differed over the way Studstill handled finances and supervised his assistant coaches, though no one has alleged deliberate wrongdoing by Studstill. In one season under Studstill Royal Palm Beach went 11-2 and reached the regional finals, and he was a finalist for the county's Lou Groza Coach of the Year award. Before being fired Studstill was given at least two opportunities to resign but declined. An official for the school was quoted as saying "In no way is it an attack on his personal or professional character. This is an isolated issue that directly deals with the direction of the football program." He will also retain his position at the school as a disciplinarian.