University of Delaware Athletics
BASE: Get to Know Derek Wakeley
10/4/2022 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware head coach Greg Mamula has added Derek Wakeley to his staff as a volunteer coach ahead of the 2023 baseball season.
Wakeley made his way to Newark after transferring from Rowan College of Gloucester County (currently known as Rowan College of South Jersey) to continue his baseball career. He then suited up in the Blue & Gold for three seasons (2019-21). The West Deptford, N.J. native was named to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Commissioner's Honor Roll once and earned a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List. Wakeley concluded his career in the Delaware uniform posting a 7-6 record with seven saves. He finished with a 5.03 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 74 walks in 93 innings.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I grew up in West Deptford, N.J. Baseball has been the main focus of my entire life and I am blessed to be able to be coaching on the Division I level. After high school, I attended Stony Brook University, then transferred to Gloucester County College and then finished my playing career at UD where I received my bachelors in Economics and Masters in Business Administration. Last year, I coached at GCC and was lucky enough to get to UD with the new coaching staff.
Why did you choose Delaware?
I chose Delaware because I loved my time as a player and coaching here was a big goal of mine when my playing career was over.
Where does your passion for the sport come from?
I have loved baseball since as long as I can remember. I don't exactly remember what got me hooked, I guess I owe it to my parents for signing me up for the local little league.
What excites you the most about working with the other coaches on the staff?
Their knowledge of the game. Only being 24 years old, I am super young in the coaching field. So getting to learn from these guys who have years of experience is going to greatly help my IQ of the game.
Do you have a coaching mentor that played a role in you becoming a coach? If so, who and how did they impact you?
Rob Valli (GCC) and Jim Sherman (UD). Coach Valli was my coach at GCC and playing for him was some of the most fun I have had playing baseball. He made me want to be around the game for a long time. He gave me the opportunity to start my coaching career last year on his staff where I learned a lot and without him I would not be where I am today. A lot of the same can be said about Coach Sherm. He is a legend at UD and across Division I baseball and I aspire to have similar kind of success.
Wakeley made his way to Newark after transferring from Rowan College of Gloucester County (currently known as Rowan College of South Jersey) to continue his baseball career. He then suited up in the Blue & Gold for three seasons (2019-21). The West Deptford, N.J. native was named to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Commissioner's Honor Roll once and earned a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List. Wakeley concluded his career in the Delaware uniform posting a 7-6 record with seven saves. He finished with a 5.03 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 74 walks in 93 innings.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I grew up in West Deptford, N.J. Baseball has been the main focus of my entire life and I am blessed to be able to be coaching on the Division I level. After high school, I attended Stony Brook University, then transferred to Gloucester County College and then finished my playing career at UD where I received my bachelors in Economics and Masters in Business Administration. Last year, I coached at GCC and was lucky enough to get to UD with the new coaching staff.
Why did you choose Delaware?
I chose Delaware because I loved my time as a player and coaching here was a big goal of mine when my playing career was over.
Where does your passion for the sport come from?
I have loved baseball since as long as I can remember. I don't exactly remember what got me hooked, I guess I owe it to my parents for signing me up for the local little league.
What excites you the most about working with the other coaches on the staff?
Their knowledge of the game. Only being 24 years old, I am super young in the coaching field. So getting to learn from these guys who have years of experience is going to greatly help my IQ of the game.
Do you have a coaching mentor that played a role in you becoming a coach? If so, who and how did they impact you?
Rob Valli (GCC) and Jim Sherman (UD). Coach Valli was my coach at GCC and playing for him was some of the most fun I have had playing baseball. He made me want to be around the game for a long time. He gave me the opportunity to start my coaching career last year on his staff where I learned a lot and without him I would not be where I am today. A lot of the same can be said about Coach Sherm. He is a legend at UD and across Division I baseball and I aspire to have similar kind of success.
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