Derek Headrick joins Tennessee Tech’s Athletic Performance staff, bringing in valuable experience on the Southeastern Conference level. With his experience, he also brings a level of adaptability thanks to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, shifting his instruction methods as needed.

As he comes to Cookeville, Headrick touts three years of Division I experience with two Power Five programs and 12 different sports in his wheelhouse.

“I am thrilled to have Derek join our Athletic Performance staff,” said Tech director of athletic performance Matt Hewett. “He is super high energy and brings a new dynamic to our staff. The SEC knowledge he has will be an incredible asset and I couldn’t be more excited to add his knowledge to our staff.”

 Headrick was most recently a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Auburn for two years. While there, he designed and implemented the strength and conditioning protocols for men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s diving and women’s basketball. He also assisted with training for the women’s basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, track and field and men’s golf teams. Last summer, he was the interim strength coach for the Auburn women’s basketball team.

Before that, Headrick spent a season at South Carolina, working with football, baseball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s diving, and men’s and women’s track and field.

“I was truly honored and lucky to get to spend time with those programs,” he said. “Absorbing all of that and bringing it here to Tech is something I probably couldn’t explain enough. I got to work with a lot of great people and different teams. I’m trying to incorporate those into my own routines. Trying to make the teams the best I can is all I’m looking to do.”

Headrick also spent nearly two years at Lee University as a student intern and assistant strength and conditioning coach as he earned his degree in December 2014 in physical education with a concentration in health, wellness and nutrition. He later earned his master's of education in kinesiology with an emphasis in motor development and sport psychology this past June at Auburn.

In addition to his collegiate work, Headrick also worked for almost two years as an assistant strength and speed coach at D1 Sports Training of Knoxville and two stints as a head fitness instructor at Planet Fitness.

He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

A former student-athlete himself, Headrick played five seasons of baseball on the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA levels, then saw action for four years in professional baseball, including time in the Pecos League with the Great Bend Boom.