Education
He is an alumnus of Santa Monica High where he starred as a player on the 1982 CIF football champions and was teammates with Sam Anno and University of Southern California standout Keith Davis on the team that beat Long Beach Poly 21-8. He was also teammates in high school with fellow Santa Monica defensive back Junior Thurman who eventually along with Sam Anno transferred to University of Southern California after playing football at West Los Angeles College. Darren starred as a player on the 1982 CIF championship football team and also played defense with Dean Cain, who starred as a defensive back on the 1981-1982 team that beat Long Beach Poly 21-8 before accepting a scholarship to play football at Princeton University.
Willis later became a coach on the Santa Monica staff in 2001 and helped guide the Vikings to a CIF title the school"s first since he was a prep at the school.
Career
Willis was the starting free safety on the 1987 Rose Bowl Champions team that helped the Sun Devils reach their first appearance for the Arizona State Sun Devils football team in the 1987 Rose Bowl. Jeff Van Raaphorst, who led Arizona State to its first Rose Bowl appearance, defeating Michigan 22-15, in the 1987 game. Van Raaphorst passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the game, out-dueling the Wolverines" Jim Harbaugh, and capturing Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player honors.
(The Arizona State University quarterback and 1987 Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player Jeff Van Raaphorst was eventually inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame).
Willis grabbed 6 receptions for 124 yards and a Territorial Decoration in the 1991 Arena Bowl championship and was named the game"s Ironman. He is currently recognized as one of the top athletics trainers working with current NFL players such as Shawne Merriman.
Willis holds a degree from Arizona State University in Kinesiology and has successfully developed personal workout plans for High school, college, and NFL football players to maximize their athletic potential.
