Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Marquis Frias, Assistant Sports Editor
Just months after graduating from Susquehanna, former field hockey and swimming standout Ashley Derrick is spending her time with a different Landmark Conference institution.
Derrick was recently named an assistant coach of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving team at Juniata.
In her time at SU, Derrick spent all four years on both teams. She started 34 games in field hockey, taking over starting goalie duties in her junior season. She was also a co-captain for the swim team in the winter.
Her success at goal helped lead the field hockey team to the Landmark Conference title, where Derrick made the title-winning save in shootouts. Derrick was also named the Landmark Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player.
“Honestly [that was] the best time of my life,” Derrick said, reminiscing on the special moment.
“I still cry watching the videos over and over.”
In 2024 for her senior year, Derrick backed up her 2023 campaign with an even more impressive one. Derrick saw 56 shots, saving 41 of them and only conceding 15 goals.
With Derrick’s play at the cage, Susquehanna repeated as Landmark Conference Champions.
When Derrick wasn’t on the pitch dominating at goal, she was at the pool.
She spent four years on the swim team competing in mostly backstroke events, with her career high in the 100-yard backstroke at 58.96 seconds.
In 2021, Derrick received a silver medal in the Landmark Conference Championship for her 59.46 second performance in the 100-yard backstroke.
“The people around me are what really kept me going,” Derrick said. “I loved my teammates on both teams and they were the people I wanted to be there for… being there for them was one of my favorite things in college.”
An elementary education major, she worked with the Summit Early Learning Center, a daycare on Susquehanna’s campus and also did her student teaching for a second-grade class.
“I really enjoyed connecting with all the kids and doing lessons, creating lessons, and being a part of my peers as well,” Derrick said.
However, Derrick’s love for sports still lingered, and she wanted to use her skills in early education in coaching: “I wanted to coach when I was young, learn the ropes, and possibly one day be a head coach somewhere,” Derrick said.
After graduating, Derrick was looking to become a coach at a college program. She had her eyes originally set on Moravian University to become a goalkeeping coach after sharing a connection with their field hockey coach.
However, the funding and tools weren’t all there yet for Derrick to make the move to Moravian, and that is when the opportunity at Juniata was discovered.
“I got a DM from [Juniata Swimming & Diving Head Coach] Kyle Russell, and he asked, ‘Hey do you have anything lined up after college yet?’” Derrick said.
From there, Derrick was offered the job after applying and interviewing. She was officially named an assistant coach in July 2025.
“Juniata Swimming has a special place in my heart,” Derrick said. “My freshman year I ripped a small hole in my tech suit, and a Juniata swimmer came over to me and helped me patch up my suit… the kindness from their team really resonated with me.”
As for the future, Derrick wants to continue to build her experience in Juniata and hopefully earn a head coaching job one day.