BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Derek played football and graduated from Clarke Central High School. He attended the University of Virginia to pursue his undergraduate degree in Foreign Affairs and Government and chose to walk on to the UVA football team as a receiver, where he played all four years and was named first team Academic All-ACC his senior year. Derek then went on to earn his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1994.

Derek began his professional career practicing law at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Atlanta, before he started his 28-year coaching career at the University of Georgia in 1996 as a graduate assistant. From there, Derek coached nine years in the National Football League and nineteen years in college. At the time, he was the only head football coach in Division I college athletics to simultaneously serve as the school’s athletic director.

Following his career in coaching, Derek has pursued his passion of helping guide the future of college athletics by working with Group of 5 schools across the country to ensure collegiate sports continue to thrive for future generations. Derek and his wife, Allison, have three adult children and live in Clayton, Georgia.

HEADSHOTS