Little Rec Field, Grass Area 1Soccer Venue in San Francisco, CA

Hi I'm Derek! I recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz, where I played four years of college soccer as a winger and an outside back. Since graduation, I have continued to stay involved with the sport both as a fan (come on Arsenal) and by playing in the SFSFL and other pick-up games around the city. As a coach, I use my experience with technical drills I have found most effective during my 16+ years as a player, and shape my sessions around whatever skills you'd like to work on, whether that be finishing, defending, technique, etc.

"The lesson was pretty good, especially since I appreciated how close Derek liked to stay nearby during the drill. Though I still need to get more comfortable with the ball, I feel like I made some decent progress, and the lesson highlighted that proximity can really help with focus. Hopefully, next time I can build more confidence with ball control. If you’re looking for a coach who keeps things close and helpful, Derek might be worth a try.

Growing up, my family didn’t have the means to fund my soccer journey beyond recreational. Despite this, I still managed to earn my way onto my extremely competitive high school varsity team through hard work and discipline. In college, I began coaching kids 2-18 years old both privately and on recreational + competitive teams. I have years of experience working with youth, coaching soccer, and a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology which means I emphasize proper motor development and injury prevention in my instruction. My goal is for children to have a healthy, lifelong relationship with the greatest sport in the world!