Tarleton State University Athletics

Texan Hall of Famer James Dearth is entering his fourth year as a volunteer assistant coach with Tarleton track and field ahead of the 2023-24 season. 
 
A 12-year NFL veteran, Dearth enjoyed a decorated career as a two-sport athlete at Tarleton from 1995-1999. He earned a pair of second team All-American accolades as a tight end and also received a set of All-American honors in the shot put as a member of the track and field team. 
 
Originally from Scurry, Texas, Dearth returned to the track and field program in 2020 and coaches the Texan throwers. His primary event groups are the shot put, discus throw and hammer throw. 
 
In 2021-22, Dearth had a large hand in helping Tarleton rewrite its program record books during its first full season at NCAA Division I. With Dearth serving as an assistant coach, the program broke a combined nine indoor and outdoor school records, saw 33 athletes garner All-Western Athletic conference first or second team accolades, and generated 112 new marks on its all-time indoor and outdoor top-10 record books.
 
During the outdoor season, he coached Oscar Rodriguez and Elena Reagan to All-Western Athletic Conference credentials. Rodriguez earned All-Conference accolades in both the hammer throw and discus. Rodriguez placed third in the hammer throw and broke his own school record at the WAC Outdoor Championships with a toss of 179’ 1”. He was one of two athletes to receive All-WAC first team recognition. The Del Rio, Texas native then placed fifth in the discus behind a heave of 170’ 6”. Under Dearth’s direction, Rodriguez currently is a four-time All-WAC honoree. Reagan concluded her five-year Texan career with an eighth-place finish in the discus. She ascended to second and third, respectively, on Tarleton’s all-time outdoor top-10 list in the hammer throw and discus while working with Dearth.
 
In total, seven of Dearth’s athletes combined to produce 12 new marks on Tarleton’s combined record books in the shot put, discus, hammer throw and weight throw.
 
Dearth guided Tarleton through its first season competing at the D1 level and as a member of the WAC during the 2020-21 campaign. His first season as a coach produced several milestones. 
 
Dearth coached Rodriguez to a conference championship in the discus throw in May. A sophomore, Rodriguez finished first at the WAC Championships with a throw of 174’ 6” and earned All-WAC first team recognition at the conclusion of the meet. Rodriguez also broke Tarleton’s outdoor school record in the hammer throw with a heave of 174’ 8” under Dearth’s leadership. He finished fourth at the WAC Championships and garnered All-WAC second team honors. Dearth also coached Reagan to a sixth-place finish in the discus throw (144’ 6”) at the conference championships and her first set of All-Conference accolades in her career in Purple and White. 
 
Following his time in Stephenville, Dearth was selected in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He was converted to a long snapper in 2001 with the New York Jets and spent the final eight seasons of his career in the Meadowlands.