Darby is a 1992 graduate of Springfield Central High school. That year he was a member of the Mass State Champion Central High School Golden Eagles Wrestling Team. Darby was an individual State Champion and earned All-American honors. He now teaches at Central High and is serving in his ninth year as the Central wrestling head coach. In 2008, Darby was enshrined in the Springfield High School Hall of Fame in the first ever enshrinement class.

Darby has a talent for helping kids understand the principles for success both on and off the mat. Central High has always stressed the need for athletes to be students first, and Darby stresses this in the wrestling program.