Football
- Title:
- Assistant Football Coach (Cornerbacks)
- Phone:
- 662-325-3470
Darcel McBath enters his fourth season as Mississippi State's cornerbacks coach in 2023. He came to MSU on February 4, 2020 as cornerbacks coach.
McBath has transformed the cornerbacks room to one of the SEC's best since his arrival at Mississippi State.
McBath coached cornerback Martin Emerson for two seasons (2020-21) before Emerson became the 68th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. A season later, junior cornerback Emmanuel Forbes led the SEC and ranked No. 3 nationally in interceptions (6) en route to consensus All-America honors. Forbes, a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, also broke the FBS career record for pick-sixes (6) after adding a nation's-best three in 2022. His 174 interception return yards in 2022 also led the nation. Meanwhile, junior cornerback Decamerion Richardson led the SEC in tackles among cornerbacks in 2022.
Before arriving in Starkville, he spent three seasons at Washington State (2017-19), including part of the 2019 season as interim co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach. He was elevated to cornerbacks coach in 2018 after serving in a defensive quality control role in 2017.
McBath assumed co-interim defensive coordinator duties on Sept. 28, following the Utah game during the 2019 season. The Cougars finished the year fifth in the Pac-12 in takeaways (19) and tied for second in fumbles gained (9). His cornerbacks unit was led by George Hicks III, who broke up a team-high five passes and Marcus Strong, who recorded a pair of interceptions.
During his first season coaching cornerbacks in 2018, his unit combined for five takeaways highlighted by four interceptions. His group broke up 18 passes on the year and added 3.0 sacks. Senior Darrien Molton tied for eighth in the Pac-12 with nine pass breakups. McBath’s unit finished fourth in the Pac-12 in passing defense.
As a defensive quality control coach in 2017, McBath assisted with game prep, film breakdown and statistical tendencies for the Cougars.
Prior to his time in Pullman, McBath spent the 2016 season as a defensive quality control analyst at North Texas, working with defensive backs.
The Gainesville, Texas native, was a four-year letterman at defensive back under Mike Leach at Texas Tech from 2004-08. McBath earned All-Big 12 first team honors in 2008 after leading the nation with seven interceptions. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in general studies and spent five seasons in the NFL after being selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
McBath played five seasons in the NFL before beginning his coaching career. A second-round selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2009 NFL Draft, McBath spent two seasons in Denver, one in Jacksonville and two in San Francisco. He played in 52 total games, recording 45 tackles with two interceptions. He played in Super Bowl XLVII as a member of the 49ers and made one tackle.
McBath and his wife, Malorie, were married in 2013 and have two children, Ansleigh and Duke.
Hometown: Gainesville, Texas
Education: Texas Tech, 2008 (B.A., General Studies)
Wife: Malorie
Children: Ansleigh, Duke
Birthdate: Oct. 28, 1985
2019: Washington State (Interim Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2018: Washington State (Cornerbacks)
2017: Washington State (Defensive Quality Control)
2016: North Texas (Defensive Quality Control)
2021 Liberty Bowl (Mississippi State)
2020 Armed Forces Bowl (Mississippi State)
2019 Cheez-It Bowl (Washington State)
2018 Alamo Bowl (Washington State)
2017 Holiday Bowl (Washington State)
2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl (North Texas)
2011: Jacksonville Jaguars
2009-10: Denver Broncos
