Darrell Gooden is a UWF graduate, a UWF Football Founder, and a Sword and Shield Council member. Darrell has supported the university and UWF Athletics for years and was integral in helping support the building of the Darrell Gooden Center. Thank you, Darrell, for your support of the University of West Florida.
 
Why do you give to UWF Athletics? 
I believe that sports are a big part of the college experience and give student-athletes an overall better education. In team sports, they learn how to work together to achieve a common goal. This helps prepare them for their next adventure after they receive their degree and enter the workforce. I am blessed to be able to give back to the university what they have given me, a great education. 
 
Why do you continue to give annually? 
It takes money to run all these programs and field the great teams that UWF has enjoyed with numerous conference championships and 10 National Championships. I believe that my support is greatly appreciated by the student-athletes and the university. Giving annually shows my support for the Athletic Programs and all the great coaches and staff who are committed to our student-athletes. 
 
What would you say is the best thing about being a donor to UWF Athletics? 
The pride that we all have in being an Argonaut and all the exposure that UWF receives nationwide from our student-athletes. The Argonaut Athletic Club is a great way for me to give back to the university for the education that I obtained which has allowed me to achieve all the success that I have. It gives me great pride to be a part of the Football Founders and the Sword and Shield Council, which started the football program and still oversees it today. I can look at the new football stadium to see where my donations, along with those of many other donors were spent! 
 
What makes you passionate about UWF Athletics? 
Today is a fun and great time to be an Argonaut with the new football program and all the great sports teams we have at UWF. I believe this is what will lead UWF forward and into the future as a great university. GO ARGOS! 
 
Anything else you'd like to add?
Yes, there are numerous moments that I have enjoyed being a part of. I would say that I am most proud of naming the building that houses the football operations and the State-of-the-art weight room that all student-athletes use. It has been named the "Darrell Gooden Center" in my honor for the donation to help build it. I have had some great experiences traveling with the football team to all their playoff games and seeing us getting the runner-up championship in 2017 in Kansas City, and then in McKinney, Texas when we won the National Championship in 2019. Both of these were records for any kind of start-up college football team....... PRICELESS.