Derick Hinch begins his second season with Western track & field in 2019.
With the Mountaineers, Hinch is responsible for coaching the jumps and multi-event groups while coordinating facilities scheduling for Mountaineer Athletics.
After his first season Hinch coached five athletes to seven top ten performances setting two school records in the process. He also hosted the first ever Crested Butte Street Vault in 2019.
Hinch comes to Western from Minnesota State University, Mankato where he served as a graduate assistant for the men's and women's track & field programs. At Minnesota State, Hinch coached the pole vault and aided in the administration of both the horizontal and vertical jumps. Additionally, Hinch coordinated academic progress meetings and study hall for track & field athletes.
With the Mavericks, Hinch coached an NCAA DII National Champion in the women's high jump at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships along with a 2018 NCAA Indoor All-American in the men's triple jump. At the conference level, he helped the Maverick men clinch their seventh straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championship by nearly 100 points while the women finished as runner-up. At the NSIC Outdoor Championship, the Mavericks would replicate the feat. Hinch's athletes won four NSIC individual event titles during the 2018 indoor/outdoor campaigns.
As an athlete, Hinch's resume is extensive. He began his career at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California where he was the California State Junior College Champion in 2011. After Cuesta, Hinch transferred to Arizona State University. At the 2012 NCAA DI Outdoor Championships, Hinch finished third with a personal best mark of 5.50m (18'0.5"). All told, Hinch was a two-time All-American in the pole vault for the Sun Devils and sits second on their all-time top ten list in the event.
Following graduation in 2014, Hinch continued to train and compete at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California under the guidance of coaches Kris Mack and Jeremy Fischer. While at the training center, Hinch was a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier and also qualified for four U.S. Championships.
With a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Hinch continues his Masters in Sports Management at Minnesota State University, Mankato with an anticipated graduation in December 2018.
The Auburn, California native resides in Gunnison with his fiancee Erin.
