Brandon Derrick
Derrick strives for continued success at Frederica Academy
By John Wood
Frederica Academy hoisted the GISA State Championship last fall, defeating Robert Toombs Academy, 34-30. Following the win, head coach Clint Morgan left St. Simon’s Island for Tattnall Square in Macon, Georgia.When Frederica Academy put together its letter advertising for a new head coach, it mentioned the 28-point come from behind win in the state championship against Robert Toombs.
The letter also stressed the correct applicant would have experience and an “exceptional knowledge and philosophy of the game of football.”Frederica Academy didn’t have to go very far to find their next coach. The Knights had to just take a left out of the parking lot go down Demere Street and cross F.J. Torras Causeway, the bridge joining St. Simon’s Island to the port city of Brunswick. The Knights hired Glynn Academy offensive coordinator Brandon Derrick to take over the Frederica Academy football program when Morgan departed for Tattnall Square. Derrick will also be a member of the Frederica history department. He taught Advanced Placement U.S. history and AP world history at Glynn Academy.
As the offensive coordinator at Glynn Academy, Derrick, showed a wide berth of offensive tactics that helped the Red Terrors achieve back-to-back trips to the second round of the AAAA state playoffs. In 2010, after defeating Lovejoy 7-6, Glynn lost to Dutchtown, 3-0. More importantly, Derrick coached several players who went on to play college ball. One of those players was standout full back/linebacker James Dean, a previous In the Game Player Profile, who signed with Georgia Southern out of high school.Derrick is originally from the Volunteer State. Graduating from McMinn Central High School in Englewood, Tennessee, he played quarterback. As a senior he led his team to the state title game in 1993. After high school, he went to Maryville College, graduating with a bachelor of arts. He started at quarterback for three years at Maryville and was a four-year letterman. Derrick also holds a master’s degree in education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.His first coaching job was in west Georgia at Temple High School in Carroll County. He served as a defensive coordinator for two years and an offensive coordinator for three years before taking an opportunity that brought him back to his alma matter in Tennessee. In 2006, Derrick was hired to take over the McMinn Central High School program for his first opportunity to be a head coach. The Chargers finished its first season under Derrick 3-7, but then his next two teams turned in stellar 9-2 seasons. In 2009, Derrick moved to the Georgia coast, becoming the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Red Terrors head coach Rob Ridings at Glynn Academy.
“As an assistant I have always analyzed how the head coach interacts with the players, booster club, school administration, and community. Being a head coach for three years prior to my arrival at GA, helped me understand what needed to be added to GA to get the best possible result out of the players and the school. I learned numerous things from the GA staff on what to do in certain situations and how to handle certain situations,” Derrick says.Derrick also brings former Glynn Academy teacher and coach Geoff Cannon to be the head track and assistant football coach at Frederica Academy. Cannon, a graduate of Auburn University, worked in accounting until leaving the field to teach math at Kell High School. In 2005, he relocated to the Georgia coast at Glynn Academy. Cannon also has a degree in postsecondary education from Troy University.Frederica Academy has continued to be one of the better GISA programs. Frederica started the season giving Derrick a victory in his head coaching debut for the Knights, routing David Emanuel Academy, 45-0. Averaging a fast-paced 27 points a game and guided by senior signal caller Max Bourne, the Knights hit the midway point of the season 4-2, scoring 191 points over six games. The team suffered early losses to a very athletic Memorial Day School from Savannah (40-10) and a disappointing upset to an upstart Curtis Baptist team (27-22) from Augusta.Frederica opens conference play against First Presbyterian Christian Academy at home.
