Derek Schmitt Elevated to Director of Athletics at Eastern Nazarene College

QUINCY, Mass.- Eastern Nazarene College has announced the promotion of Derek Schmitt to Director of Athletics. Schmitt moves into the role of Athletic Director following Dr. Brad Zarges' appointment to Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at the College.

"It is my pleasure to announce the promotion of Derek Schmitt to Director of Athletics. Since Derek arrived at ENC, he has been an integral part of the athletic department leadership team. In recent years, as Associate Athletic Director, he has been instrumental in pushing forward with our continual improvement planning and execution," stated Zarges. "Derek's legacy of success as a coach is evident in every program he has led, which can be attributed, at least in part, to his relentless pursuit of excellence. I have no doubt that he will bring the same work ethic and tenacity to his duties as Director of Athletics. I am excited to see new initiatives under his leadership that will positively impact our student-athletes and campus."

"I am super humbled to have the opportunity to serve Eastern Nazarene College as the next Director of Athletics. Since I arrived at ENC as a freshman in the Fall of 1988, that title has been held by three amazing people in Carroll F. Bradley, Dr. Nancy Detwiler, and Dr. Brad Zarges. Their collective contributions to ENC, and specifically ENC Athletics, over these many, many years is just staggering.  Being entrusted with this position at my alma mater, a school I have been affiliated with for over 20 years of my life as a student and employee, is such an incredible honor," commented Schmitt. "I want to thank Dr. Colleen Derr and Dr. Brad Zarges for their confidence in me to lead the Athletic Department and I am especially excited to continue to have Dr. Zarges as a mentor as he has been that to me for the past seven years."

Schmitt, a graduate of Eastern Nazarene College, returned as head men's and women's volleyball coach in 2017. In 2021, he was elevated to Associate Athletic Director and head women's volleyball coach. Schmitt served as head men's volleyball as well as head men's and women's tennis coach on an interim basis during the 2023-24 academic year.

In his second stint at ENC, he has guided the Lions' women's volleyball team to four conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons. In the spring of 2024, Schmitt led the men's volleyball team to a victory over No. 7 nationally-ranked Springfield and its first-ever New England Volleyball Conference championship match appearance. He also guided the men's tennis team to its fourth Great Northeast Athletic Conference title while coaching the women's tennis team to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

While at the helm of the Eastern Nazarene women's volleyball program, Schmitt has garnered two New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Coach of the Year awards and was voted the North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2023.

He owns a 192-97 career record at Eastern Nazarene, combining men's and women's volleyball and men's and women's tennis.

Prior to returning to Eastern Nazarene, he served as head men's volleyball coach at California Baptist University. Schmitt has also held coaching positions at Erskine College, Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan University, and UMass-Boston.

"I am excited for the future of ENC Athletics and especially want to see our student-athletes and athletics staff have an amazing experience, especially through the lens of ENC Athletics' four core values of Faith, Academics, Competition, and Service," offered Schmitt.