Derek Yush - Assistant Coach (Throws) - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Derek Yush

Title:
Assistant Coach (Throws)
Email:
Phone:
205-348-3560

Personal Information

Education: UConn, 1997

Coaching Experience

2017-present: Alabama, Assistant Coach
2007-17: LSU, Assistant Coach
2000-07: Rhode Island, Assistant Coach
1998-99: Eastern Connecticut State, Head Coach
1997-98: Eastern Connecticut State, Assistant Coach

Playing Experience

1994-1997: UConn

Derek Yush is entering his ninth season as an assistant coach with the Alabama track and field program, overseeing the Crimson Tide's throws contingent.

Yush's Time at Alabama

Through eight seasons, Yush has guided his group to the following accolades:
- One NCAA champion
- 19 First Team All-Americans
- 10 SEC champions
- 33 All-SEC selections
- Seven current UA school records
Notable Crimson Tide student-athletes coached by Yush:
- Mye'Joi Williams - captured first team All-America honors in her final meet for the Tide, competing for UA in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Williams secured SEC silver in shot put at the 2025 indoor meet, where she would also earn NCAA qualification for the national meet. In total, Williams captured three total All-America honors.
- Bobby Colantonio - claimed the 2022 indoor national title in the weight throw, competing at UA from 2019-23. Colantonio accumulated six All-America accolades during his career, winning SEC gold in the hammer throw (2022) and won SEC weight throw back-to-back years (2022-23).
- Isaac Odugbesan - was a three-time SEC shot put champion who competed for UA from 2020-22. Odugbesan earned two All-America honors during the 2021 campaign, (shot put) becoming the first UA athlete to win SEC gold in outdoor shot put since 1980.
- Portious Warren - won the 2019 indoor shot put SEC title, competing at UA in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Warren tallied multiple All-America honors during the 2019 campaign, finishing third in indoor shot put and second in outdoor shot put, earning four total All-America accolades during her career.

At LSU

Yush's success with the Tigers' throws contingent:
- Four individual national champions
- 23 First Team All-Americans
- 14 SEC champions
- 30 All-SEC selections
- Seven LSU school records

At Rhode Island

Coached the men's throws, jumps and multi-events while also acting as an assistant with the cross country team
Led Rhode Island to 11 Atlantic-10 Conference titles, including five indoor and six outdoor crowns during his tenure

At Eastern Connecticut State

Served as the head men's and women's coach at Eastern Connecticut State after first overseeing the sprints, jumps and throws groups in a previous stint

Yush + Olympic Success

Raven Saunders - Yush guided Saunders to become a silver-medals finish in shot put at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a personal best throw of 19.96m (65-6).
Portious Warren - Warren threw a personal best of 18.75m (61-6.25) to make the shot put final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ultimately finishing 11th.

About Yush

Two-time USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year
Holds a USA Track and Field Level II Coaching Certificate and is fully certified to coach sprints, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws and multi-events
Has served as the throwing events instructor for the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academy since 2013
Is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, after being certified in 1997
Earned a bachelor's degree in dietetics from Connecticut in May 1997
Served two seasons as an administrative assistant at UConn, where he served as a team captain and helped lead the Huskies to Big East and New England titles as a senior
Yush and his wife, Heather, reside in Tuscaloosa