Executive President / Head Coach
Derek Masterson received an athletic scholarship to UC Santa Barbara in 2008. While competing for UCSB’s track and field team as a decathlete the hard work and leadership skills he learned early in his life brought him to be a two-year team captain, three-time Big West Champion, NCAA finals participant and two-time regional qualifier. When UCSB’s men’s team won their first team title in school history Derek made his mark as high point scorer for the team. After completing a college career and earning a B.S. in Environmental Studies, Derek was pleased to joined UCSB’s coaching staff as an assistant coach while continuing to pursue the decathlon on an international level. During his time as a post collegiate he earned honors as a two-time team USA Decathlete, and was top 10 in the nation between 2014-2016. In the successive track seasons, 2016-2018, Derek became a member of the Santa Barbara track club at Westmont, under the tutelage of Josh Priester. After retiring from track and field in 2018, he spent three years as part of the Santa Barbara County Wildland Fire Hand Crew, eventually becoming lead sawyer in 2020. He worked as a valued part of SB County’s Type 1 hand crew on big campaign fires: The Woolsey Fire, The Cave Fire in 2019, and The Creek Fire in 2020, among many others. After his 2020 season with Santa Barbara County Fire Department Derek was fortunate enough to receive a bid to attend Paramedic School as a part of UCLA’s Pre-Hospital Care program. After becoming a licensed Paramedic, he began work as a Medic for local polo fields. While looking for a change, a long talk with former training partner and friend, Tom Fitzsimons, brought Derek a referral to Russell Smelley and Westmont track and field, leading to the Associate Head Coach position at Westmont College. Derek has thoroughly enjoyed his first season working as a Warrior. The community and caliber of people at Westmont are second to none, leaving Derek with a sense of belonging and a desire to continue giving back to the sport that has taught him so much. Derek is proud to be part of the Westmont community and feels incredibly fortunate to be part of such a sacred community, returning to his true passion of track and field in the new role of Coach for the Sprints, Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Sprint Relays, Decathlon and Heptathlon.
Qualifications/Certifications
USA Olympic Lifting lvl 1
3 years of collegiate coaching
4 years of gym management
USTFCCCA Jumps Specialist Certification
2023 Season
During Derek’s first season with the Warriors, he led the women’s 4x100m relay to a new school record, took 7 athletes from his training group to the NAIA Outdoor Nationals including; a heptathlete, a men’s long jumper, the women’s 4x100m relay, the women’s 4x400m relay and an alternate for the men’s 4x800m relay that took 3rd at NAIA Nationals. Derek has plans to accompany one of the men’s long jumpers to the World University Games in China in the summer of 2023. Hobbies include: beach volleyball, fishing, mountain biking, sailing, building, and woodwork.