Williamsburg, KY – After a historic season that included a women's national championship and a men's national relay title, University of the Cumberlands Track & Field assistant coach Derek White has been elevated to Associate Head Coach. The announcement was made by Patriots Head Coach Bradley Sowder on Tuesday.
"This promotion was a no-brainer," said Sowder. "Coach White is a tremendous talent as a coach and someone who I want to continue to be here as a Patriot to continue the success as we build something special."
White just wrapped up his first season on staff, where he primarily worked with the sprinters. His impact was felt immediately, helping the Patriots women's team capture their first-ever NAIA National Championship at the 2025 Indoor National meet. That squad featured eight All-American performances across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
On the men's side, White played a key role in guiding UC to a runner-up finish at Indoor Nationals. During the outdoor season, he helped coach the men's 4x400 relay team to a national championship and oversaw a total of 20 All-American honors. His sprint crew shattered school records throughout the year, with the men's team rewriting the record books in the outdoor 200m, 400m, 4x100, and 4x400, along with the indoor 60m, 400m, and 4x400. The Patriot women added school records in the indoor 60m and 200m, and the outdoor 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100 under White's leadership.
"This past year has been nothing short of incredible," said White. "I'm grateful for the trust Coach Sowder has placed in me and honored to take on this new role. Cumberlands feels like home, and I'm excited to keep building on the foundation we've set."
White's rise within the program reflects both his coaching acumen and the culture of excellence being established by the Patriots staff.
UC will open the 2025-26 indoor season this December as they aim to defend their national title and build on a historic year.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, YouTube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
