Derrick Worrels was a prep standout at Tampa’s Plant High School before enrolling at hometown Hillsborough Community College. Playing under legendary coach Joe Patton, Worrels suited up for the Hawks from 1983 to 1985. An All-Suncoast Conference performer, Derrick led Hillsborough to a record-setting 23 straight wins during his sophomore season, became the Hawks’ first student-athlete to have his or her number retired and was the first student-athlete inducted into the HCC Hall of Fame. 

After graduating from Hillsborough, Derrick transferred to the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he was a two-sport athlete in basketball and baseball between 1985 and 1987. Following college, Derrick played with Cross Fire International, Spirt Express and the USBL’s Tampa Bay Sunblasters.  

In 1992, Derrick embarked on a successful coaching career when he returned to UNC Asheville as an assistant coach. In 1996, his career came full circle when he returned to Hillsborough as a men’s assistant. After two seasons, he received his first head coaching opportunity when he chosen to lead the HCC women. One year later, in 1999, he was named men’s head coach and promptly guided the Hawks to the FCSAA State Tournament nine times and was a three-time Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year over the next 11 seasons. Following a brief return to the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Canisius College, Derrick came back to Hillsborough in 2012 and coached the Hawks for six more seasons, garnering another postseason berth in 2015. In 17 total years as men’s head coach at his alma mater, he won more than 300 games and helped numerous student-athletes garner Division I scholarship opportunities, including fellow FCSAA Hall of Famer Othello Hunter, who earned a roster spot with the Atlanta Hawks. During this time, Derrick also served a term as FCSAA Men’s Basketball State Chair.  

As a first-generation college student, Derrick prided himself on the opportunity to give back to young men as a coach and mentor. His efforts resulted in a graduation rate of greater than 80 percent and – with a master’s degree in hand and currently pursuing a his Doctorate of Education in Community College Leadership from Kansas State University – successfully aligns with a distinguished career beyond athletics 

Beginning as an academic advisor at HCC in 1994, Derrick’s coaching career coincided with service to the College as an adjunct professor, enrollment development coordinator and assistant dean. He left Hillsborough in 2018 to become Senior Vice President of Student Services at Ranger College in Ranger, Texas, and on January 10, 2022, he was officially appointed as Ranger’s new President and CEO.  

Worrels will be recognized at halftime of Wednesday’s 8 p.m. game. 

He goes into the Hall of Fame with: