Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Derek Beasley enters his third season as Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne. Beasley was in the Oakland A's farm system from 2014-17 and posted a 2.93 ERA in the New York Penn League. 

During his time with the Bears, Beasley coached Ian Foggo who went on to sign a professional contract with the Houston Astos after his LR career. Beasley also coached SAC Freshman of the Year Josh Lanham who was one of three Bears to finish in the top 10 in the conference in strikeouts and ERA. Andrew Patrick threw the program's first no-hitter since the 90's and earned National Pitcher of the Week honors whil the pitching staff ranked first in the SAC in ERA, K/9, hits allowed, ER, K and second in walks. Three pitchers earned All-Conference honors and one was All-Region. Nationally, the LR pitching staff finish sixth in batting average against, sixth in ERA, fifth in WHIP and third in slugging percentage allowed.  

Beasley comes to Hickory after a successful playing and coaching career at USC Aiken. As the program's pitching coach, the Pacers finished second in the Peach Belt Conference in each of Beasley's two seasons and Christian Aragon was named a Second Team All-Conference pitcher and would go on to sign with the Los Angeles Angels. In 2019, all three of Beasley's weekend starters were drafted in the MLB Draft (Mitch Spence - 10th round, Zach Rafuse - 37th round, Garvin Alston Jr. - 37th round). Rafuse garnered Second Team All-Conference honors while Spence was the overall strikeout leader in the conference and was an All-Conference first teamer. The Pacers were first in the PBC in strikeouts and K/9 innings while allowing the fewest hits and the lowest batting average against under Beasley in 2019. In 2018, Aiken led the league in saves, earned runs, hits and batting average against.

As a pitcher from  2011-14, Beasley went 29-13 with a 3.65 ERA and struck out 292 batters in 311 career innings. In 2014, Beasley ranked third in NCAA Division II in games started (15) and his 52 career starts still stands as the program record. He ranks eighth in the history of the Peach Belt Conference in strikeouts and wins and fifth in games started. He was a two-time All-Conference selection and was the team MVP as a senior. In 2013, Beasley won the Mr. Pacer award for the Baseball team and was All-Region that same year.