Freshman

Coach King is entering his 6th season as the freshman coach at Roosevelt high school and is entering his 20th year as a coach (18 years for baseball and 2 years as a basketball coach). Coach King began his coaching career in 2004 right after he finished his 4th season of playing college baseball at the University of La Verne. Derek’s first four years were at Claremont high school from 2004-2007. As an assistant varsity coach in 2006 and 2007, he helped coach the team within one win of playing for a CIF championship. After his last year at Claremont, Derek decided to coach 7th and 8th grade basketball for a couple of seasons before jumping back onto the baseball field. Derek did a 6-year stint at Boys republic high school and then 2 years at Ayala before heading over to coach at Roosevelt high.

Growing up in San Diego, coach King not only played baseball but also basketball and soccer. Derek’s senior year as a Madison high Warhawk he was named most athletic in the high school yearbook. He was also nominated for the High school Heisman award and won the Coca-Cola athlete of the year award as a Senior. Derek graduated in the top 10% of his graduating class before heading off to the University of La Verne where he majored in Kinesiology while playing baseball for the Leopards. After college Derek went on to get his teaching credential at Cal Poly Pomona and then later in life received his master’s from Concordia University in Irvine, Ca.

Coach King has been a teacher for 19 years now at Boys Republic High School and when he is not teaching or coaching he is spending as much time as he can with his family. Family is very important to Coach King as he has 4 children. Charlee (9), Jaxon (7), Mavrick (6), and Kenna (2). Derek also coaches his son Mavrick in various sports when he has time. Derek believes that coaching and parenting are very similar. In both situations there are times to teach life lessons and times to just let them be kids and enjoy themselves. Coach King feels that when athletes are comfortable and have a good relationship with a coach that they will play to the best of their ability. Confidence is key in life and in baseball. Coach King wants nothing but the best from his players and for his players.