Hall of Fame
A two-time graduate of ETSU, Gene Derrick received his undergraduate degree in 1949 and his masters in 1954. He was a two sport standout for the Buccaneers, winning the 1948 state doubles title in tennis and finishing second in the state singles championship in 1949. In basketball, he ranked as ETSU’s second leading scorer for the 1947-48 season with 10.7 points per game. Derrick served as co-captain for the ETSU basketball and tennis squads during his collegiate career. Following his playing days, he began a long and successful career as an educator, serving stints as a coach and a teacher at McMinn High School in Athens Tenn., and Valley Point High School in Dalton, Ga. In 1980, he was elected Director of Schools for McMinn County and currently serves on the McMinn County Board of Education.
