The Pemberton school board announced this week that Ryan Derry has been hired to lead the varsity boys basketball team, tasking the veteran coach with reversing a season that yielded just two victories.
A Proven Track Record
Derry arrives after six years at Burlington Township, where his teams compiled a 88‑68 record and captured two sectional championships, including the 2018 Central Jersey Group 3 title and the 2022 South Jersey Group 3 crown.
His coaching journey began in the same district, first as a baseball assistant and later as a teacher, before he guided high school basketball under the tutelage of longtime mentor Barry Harper.
He also gained valuable experience as an assistant under Roy Heck and Jay Flanagan at Rancocas Valley, learning from some of Burlington County’s most respected coaches.
The previous winter’s campaign was a stark contrast, with the team winning only two games and struggling to find rhythm on the court.
Derry’s primary mission, however, extends beyond X’s and O’s; he wants to instill a positive atmosphere, teach each player to become the best version of himself, and foster a competitive spirit that shows up every night.
If the early signs are any indication, the new coaching staff’s emphasis on confidence and hard work could be the catalyst the program needs to climb out of its recent slump.