Darren Stratton returned for the 2020-21 season for his second stint as head coach of the Northern Essex Community College men's basketball team. Previously Stratton served as the prgorams head coach from 1999 through 2015. Following back to back Region 21/East District championships, Stratton will retrun for his 22nd season in 2024-25. He captured his 300th career win leading the Knights program on November 30th 2023 as the Knights defeated CCRI by an 88-71 final on the road.

During his first stint with the program, he was a 200 game winner. A 1996 graduate of Northern Essex, Stratton played under the late Mike Rowinski from 1994 through 1996 and immediatly joined the coaching staff after graduation. The program saw tremendous success under Stratton in his first tenure, advancing to two Region 21 Championship games in 2003 and 2009 and also claiming two MCCAC State Championships along the way.