Derek Sapp was elevated to head coach in May 2017 after serving as Seton Hall’s men’s and women’s assistant coach for the previous four seasons.
Sapp played an important role in securing the 2016-17 BIG EAST Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship. As an assistant with the program, he planned and implemented workouts, provided instruction and feedback to members of both the men’s and women’s squads, and was also responsible for the coordination of the Pirates’ recruiting efforts.
Prior to his arrival in South Orange, the Pittsburgh native spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia University. During his time with the Mountaineers, Sapp assisted in the administration of all aspects of the Mountaineers’ highly successful program.
A USA Swimming certified instructor, Sapp’s coaching background also includes stints at Club Mountaineer in Morgantown, W.Va. as well as the Longhorn Swim Camp in Austin, Texas.
A 2010 graduate of Edinboro (Pa.) University, Sapp entered the coaching ranks after a standout career in the pool for the Fighting Scots’ during which he twice served as team captain and garnered a number of All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors for his exploits. A four-year letter winner, he was also recognized as a scholar athlete each year.
Sapp completed his undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education with a dual concentration in sport and recreation administration and went on to earn a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia in 2013.
