DENMARK, S.C., – Voorhees University is pleased to announce the appointment of Derrick Mitchell as Interim Men’s Head Basketball Coach. Mitchell, who previously led the Tigers from 2014 to 2020, returns to Denmark after a successful stint at Wiley University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Mitchell back to the Voorhees family,” said Charlene Johnson, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics. “His proven track record of success with our program and his deep understanding of our culture make him the ideal person to lead our men’s basketball team during this transition.”
Mitchell’s previous tenure at Voorhees was marked by historic achievements and program-defining moments. During his six seasons (2014-2020), he compiled an impressive 118-59 overall record, leading the Tigers to some of the most successful years in school history.
Among his notable accomplishments at Voorhees:
- Led the Tigers to back-to-back NAIA National Tournament appearances (2018, 2019)
- Won two A.I.I. Conference Tournament Championships (2017, 2019)
- Tied the program record with 24 wins in a single season (2018-2019, 2019-2020)
- Posted a perfect 14-0 home record during the 2018-19 season
- Earned A.I.I. Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year honors (2016)
- Named Region VII Coach of the Year (2019)
- Achieved a remarkable +7 win improvement in his second season, the largest year-to-year increase in nearly 15 years
“I’m honored and excited to return to Voorhees University,” Mitchell said. “This program holds a special place in my heart, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with these young men again. We built something special here, and I’m committed to maintaining the standard of excellence that our student-athletes, alumni, and community deserve.”
Most recently, Mitchell served as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Wiley University (2020-2022), where he set a program record for home conference wins (9), recruited the Newcomer of the Year (Michael Aiken), and was named to the Top 100 NAIA Head Coaches list by Silver Waves Media.
A native of Selma, Alabama, Mitchell is a 2002 graduate of Tougaloo College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics. He later received his master’s degree in Coaching and Sports Studies from the United States Sports Academy in 2009.
Mitchell will assume his duties immediately as the Tigers prepare for the upcoming season.
For more information about Voorhees University Athletics, visit www.voorheesathletics.com.