Derek Beasley joined Screaming Eagles as an Assistant Coach in July 2024. Beasley is responsible for coaching the pitching staff.
In his first season with the Screaming Eagles, Brady Watts was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team. Beasley led a pitching staff that helped USI tie the school-record for wins in the NCAA Division I era and set the school-record for OVC wins.
The native of Harlem, Georgia, joined the USI staff and rejoined Ramirez’s staff after helping Western Carolina University reach its second winning season in nine years and best conference record in seven years.
At Western Carolina he mentored Jonathan Todd, who was selected in the 15th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Todd earned first-team All-SoCon honors and was added to the mid-season Stopper of the Year watch list.
Prior to joining the staff at WCU, Beasley was a member of Ramirez’s staff that helped guide Lenoir-Rhyne to a 46-13 record in 2022, starting out the season with a school-record 23-1 mark and finishing one victory shy of the NCAA Division II Super Regional appearance.
During the 2022 season Beasley’s pitching staff included three South Atlantic Conference (SAC) pitchers of the week, two All-Conference selections, and Josh Lanham earning All-America accolades. Concluding the 2022 season, Lenoir-Rhyne’s pitching staff set the Division II single-season record with 647 strikeouts and ranked first in the SAC in team ERA, total strikeouts, strikeouts-per-nine innings, and innings pitched.
Prior to the record setting 2022 season, the 2021 LR pitching staff ranked 1st in the SAC in ERA, strikeouts-per-nine innings, hits allowed and total strikeouts. In 2021, Beastley's pitching staff ranked third in the nation in opponent batting average, sixth in ERA and fifth in WHIP.
The 2021 season ended with three pitchers being earning All-Conference honors and Josh Lanham garnering SAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors. A standout on the 2021 Lenoir-Rhyne pitching staff, Ian Foggo signed with the Houston Astros.
Beasley began his coaching career in 2018 at his alma matter USC Aiken, where he successfully guided the Pacers' pitching staff to the top of the Peach Belt Conference (PBC). The Pacers finished second in the league in each of Beasley's two seasons.
USC Aiken led the PBC in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings while allowing the fewest hits and the lowest batting average against under Beasley in 2019. In 2018, the Pacers was a PBC-best in saves, earned runs, hits, and batting average against.
Beasley, continuing to show his knack for producing professional pitchers from the college ranks, mentored Christian Aragon, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels after the 2018 season after being named All-Conference. In 2019, all three of USC Aiken's weekend starters had their names called in the MLB Draft. Mitch Spence was selected in 10th round by the Yankees, Garvin Alston Jr. in the 37th round by the Chicago White Sox, and Zach Rafuse by the Oakland A’s in the 35th round.
Before entering the coaching ranks, Beasley ranks as one of the most efficient pitchers in USC Aiken baseball history. He was a two-time, first-team All-Conference selection and finished his collegiate playing career second in program history with 29 victories over 310.1 career innings from 2011-14. Beasley also posted 292 career strikeouts over the 310.1 innings.
As a senior in 2014, Beasley ranked third in NCAA Division II in games started (15) and his 52 career starts are still the program record, garnering team MVP accolades. He ranks eighth in the history of the PBC in strikeouts and wins and is fifth in career games started. In 2013, Beasley won the Mr. Pacer award for the baseball team and was named All-Region.
Beasley, who is a 2016 graduate of USC Aiken with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a 2021 graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne with a masters in university leadership, was drafted by Oakland in the 30th round with the 912th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. He played three seasons of professional baseball (2014-16), securing eight victories over 40 appearances and had a 4.81 career ERA, striking out 78 and walking 31.
Beasley Career Notes:
- Had his three weekend starters at USC Aiken drafted in 2019
- Mitch Spence, a former player from USC Aiken, made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Oakland A's.
- Garvin Alston Jr., a former player from USC Aiken, reached in AAA in 2024.
- Helped to lead Western Carolina to second winning season in the previous 10 seasons in 2024.
- Helped to lead Western Carolina to its best SOCON record in seven seasons during 2024.
- Jonathan Todd, a former player with Western Carolina, was drafted in 15th round in 2024 by the Toronto Blue Jay's.
Updated June 23, 2025.
