Track and Field
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- drscott2@liberty.edu
Derek Scott has joined the Liberty staff this season as an assistant coach for the men's and women's cross country and track & field squads.
This past fall, Scott helped coach the Liberty men’s and women’s cross country squads to a sweep of the Big South team titles.
Additionally, Sam Chelanga won his second straight national title at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, while teammate Evans Kigen earned All-America recognition for the second year in a row.
On the women’s side, Jennifer Klugh became Liberty’s first individual Big South cross country champion since 2001. She also placed 15th at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships.
Scott boasts an impressive running resume of his own, training under Dr. Robert Chapman for Team Indiana Elite for the last three years. In April 2010, he won the PUMA Mile at the Mt. SAC Relays, earning a $10,000 contract from PUMA.
A participant in the men's 1,500-meter run at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Scott's personal bests include 1:48.9 for the 800, 3:39.6 for the 1,500, 3:57.87 for the mile, 8:52 for the 3,000 steeplechase and 13:47.28 for the 5K.
Scott racked up 10 NAIA All-America honors while running for Cornerstone, in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. He won the 2007 NAIA national title in the men's 1,500-meter run as a senior. Scott was also a teammate of former Liberty standout Josh McDougal on Team USA at the 2004 World Junior Track & Field Championships, where he ran the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Scott's most recent coaching experience prior to his arrival at Liberty came during the 2010 season, as an assistant track & field coach at Bloomington North High School. He also served as an assistant cross country coach at his alma mater, Northview High School, in 2007.
Scott graduated from Cornerstone in 2007, with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. A Dean's List member, Scott minored in sports management. His senior thesis was titled, "Genetics of East African Distance Runners."
