Monmouth University Athletics

Derrick Phelps joined the staff as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach in January 2023.

“Being back at Monmouth feels right,” said Phelps. “Hopefully my knowledge and experience will help this young team improve in the right direction. I appreciate King for giving me the opportunity to help where it’s needed.”
 
Phelps spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Washington State, where he was part of a group that never finished under .500 and won 22 games en route to the NIT Finals last season. Prior to that, Phelps was the associate at San Francisco, where the Dons won 20 games in all three seasons including two CBI appearances, one resulting in a trip to the finals. While at Columbia from 2014-16, the Lions won the CIT postseason tournament to cap off a 25-win campaign.
 
“I’m super excited to bring Derrick back onto our staff,” said Rice. “The experience he’s gained and the success he’s had as a college coach and as a player is going to help our guys a ton. I’m so excited to bring him back to continue to build our program up.”

Phelps was on Rice’s original staff in West Long Branch in 2011, and played with Rice at North Carolina. A 1994 UNC graduate, Phelps won the 1993 national championship with the Tar Heels and played overseas for 12 seasons. The only player in ACC history with 600 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals, Phelps was drafted No. 6 in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) Draft by the Chicago Rockers in 1994. During his tenure with the Rockers, he signed for the remainder of the season with the Sacramento Kings, and was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995 expansion draft. He also spent time in the preseason with the Milwaukee Bucks (1994) and Philadelphia 76ers (1995).
 
Phelps joins an MU staff with two North Carolina graduates on it already in Rice and assistant coach Brian Reese.