Derek Stanley
Head Coach

Derek Stanley, a native of Pataskala, Ohio, begins his sixth season as Marietta College's head track & field and cross country coach.

Stanley has maneuvered the program to its best overall results since the reinstatement in 2002, rivaling that of the top teams in the history of the sports (cross country and track & field) at Marietta College. Eight athletes have won individual titles with another 24 earning All-OAC honors for finishing in the top three of their event. In 2005, Stanley coaches senior All-American Chris Taylor to an eighth-place finish in the High Jump at the NCAA D-III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

In cross country, Stanley has had five athletes earn All-OAC honors—one first team and four second team. Since arriving, his cross country teams have equaled or improved their best place in the Conference each season. The women's cross country team has earned national All-Academic honors the past six years while the men's squad has earned the honor once.

Stanley came to Marietta from Bluffton College, where he served as the head men and women's track & field and cross country coach since 2001. During his time at Bluffton, a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, he expanded the squad size from six to 26 female athletes and 15 to 32 male athletes. Stanley coached four individual HCAC champions in 2002 and the Freshman of the Year in the HCAC in 2003. In addition, Stanley's women’s cross country team earned national All-Academic status in 2001 and 2002, and his men's cross country team earned the honor in 2002.

Stanley received his bachelor's of business administration from Tiffin University in 1999 and his master's in education from Bowling Green State University in 2002. While at Tiffin, he qualified to the indoor NAIA national championship meet in Lincoln, Neb., where he participated on the 4x400 meter relay team. He spent most of his time running for the distance team, focusing on the 800m Run, 1500m Run and 5,000m Run.

Stanley remained at Tiffin as a coach for two years following his graduation. During his time at Tiffin, Stanley coached numerous NAIA national qualifiers in indoor and outdoor track & field.

Stanley is USATF Level 2 qualified in Endurance, Throws, Sprints/Hurdles & Relays and Jumps. He currently serves as an instructor at regional USATF Level 1 schools and has hosted a Level 1 class at Marietta

"This is the strongest program that I have coached in my career," Stanley said. "We are on our way to accomplishing some special things in this Conference."

Stanley lives in Marietta.