Derrick Sherman - Wide Receivers - Staff Directory

Derek Sherman is in his first season coaching the wide receivers at Iowa State following a two-year stint at Houston in a similar role.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native spent the last four seasons working under Willie Fritz at Tulane and Houston. In 2025, he helped the Cougars to a 10-win season playing in the Big 12 Conference.

Sherman worked with Houston wide receiver Amare Thomas in 2025 as the playmaker earned First Team All-Big 12 honors after finishing with 59 receptions for 906 yards and a Big 12-best 10 receiving touchdowns.

At Tulane, Sherman helped guide a pair of All-American Athletic Conference wide receivers in Chris Brazzell and Lawrence Keys III in 2023.

The Green Wave went 23-5 in his two seasons with the school, which included a win against USC in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. The team also won the 2022 AAC Championship.

During Tulane’s 2022 season, Sherman coached running backs for the Green Wave during a 12-2 season. Tyjae Spears was named Honorable Mention All-American, American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-AAC and Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Against USC in the Cotton Bowl, Spears rushed 17 times for 205 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. He tied as the nation’s leader with 21 touchdowns and was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Before heading to New Orleans, Sherman had a number of stops, including as offensive coordinator during a three-year stint at Samford.

Sherman played at Purdue (2007-08) before finishing his career at Morgan State (2009-11), serving as team captain during his senior season for the Bears.

He earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Morgan State in 2012 and his master’s degree in education from Georgia Southern in 2015.

Sherman and his wife Sadie have two children, Xayden and Blakelyn.

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