Derek Day was chosen as EKU’s inside linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator in January 2020. He had previously worked on the staffs at Butler, Tennessee, Iowa State and Western Kentucky.
It was a standout year on special teams for the Colonels in 2024 en route to the FCS Playoffs for the second time in three seasons, going 8-4 in the regular season with top-25 wins over No. 7 Tarleton State and No. 16 Central Arkansas.
Kicker Patrick Nations earned the UAC’s Specialist of the Year Award as he ended his EKU career with the program records in field goals made with 54 and kicking points in a Colonel career with 309.
In 2024, Nations went 9-of-13 on field goals with a long of 48, with 3,758 total kickoff yards, including a conference-leading 40 touchbacks.
Punter Jacob Baker was the top punter in the UAC as he posted a punting average of 43.7 yards per punt with 17 punts of 50 yards or longer (most in the UAC) while also having a long of 65 yards.
Along with his power, Baker showed precision with 24 punts downed inside the 20, the most in the UAC, as well as delivered critical punts late in games, giving EKU an edge in the field position battle.
Day’s outside linebackers were also pivotal in the Colonels holding opponents to just 23.7 points per game, the lowest amount in the UAC.
Additionally, the position group combined for 142 total tackles and 4.5 sacks.
2023 saw Day's outside linebackers help EKU record the most fumbles recovered in the UAC with 10 on the season and the most sacks with 2.18 per game.
On special teams, the Colonels posted the second best kickoff return average in the conference with 21.33 yards per return while kicker Patrick Nations lead the nation in field goals per game with 1.73.
In his third season at EKU, Day helped coach linebacker Matthew Jackson to an All-American season. Jackson ranked third in the ASUN in tackles and made 41 stops over the final three games of the season.
EKU's defense held No. 15 Southeast Missouri to 10 points in the second half of a comeback victory and limited Central Arkansas to its lowest point total against an FCS opponent of the season.
Before the 2021 season, Day switched from coaching inside linebackers to coaching outside linebackers. The Colonel defense ranked fourth nationally in defensive touchdowns and 15th in red-zone defense, allowing opponents to score just 10.1 points per game in the second half.
Linebackers Kyle Bailey and Matthew Jackson each recorded 102 tackles, with Jackson being tabbed as Phil Steele's ASUN Defensive Player of the Year. Fellow linebacker Eli Hairston finished third on the team in tackles.
In his first season, Day helped the defense stymie a pair of Southern Conference offenses helping EKU beat The Citadel, 37-14, on the road and Western Carolina, 49-17, in the 2020 Opportunity Bowl. EKU also knocked off No. 11 Central Arkansas for the program’s first win over a top-25 ranked team since 2013, and first victory over a non-conference ranked team since 2003. The Colonel defense held Troy to 10 second half points as Eastern nearly upset the FBS Trojans on the road.
In his first season as a starter, linebacker Matthew Jackson excelled. Jackson led the nation during the fall season with two fumbles recovered and ranked ninth in the country with 9.9 tackles per game. As a team, Eastern Kentucky was third in the country during the fall with 16 turnovers gained.
“I got to know Derek when I was at Western Kentucky and he went on to have success coaching both defense and special teams,” head coach Walt Wells said. “I was also with him at Tennessee when he worked with the linebackers. He had the opportunity to work with Paul Rhoads, who I respect a lot, at Iowa State. Derek’s a good young coach and it’s good to have him and his family here.”
For three seasons (2017-19), Day served as the linebacker coach, co-special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Butler. He coached two all-conference linebackers and an all-league kicker.
As a defensive quality control assistant working with linebackers at Tennessee in 2015 and 2016, Day helped the Volunteers reach the 2015 Outback Bowl and the 2016 Music City Bowl. He coached All-Southeastern Conference linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin who was a fourth round NFL Draft pick, and all-freshman team linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.
In 2012 and 2013, Day was a defensive graduate assistant linebackers coach at Iowa State. He helped the Cyclones reach the 2012 Liberty Bowl. He worked with two All-Big 12 and fifth round NFL Draft picks – linebackers AJ Klein (2013) and Jeremiah George (2014).
At Western Kentucky, Day served as a defensive graduate assistant with the defensive line and linebackers.
Day earned a bachelor’s of science degree in education at Butler in 2009. He was a four-year starter at defensive end with the Bulldogs. Day received a master’s degree in education at Iowa State in 2014. He and his wife Lacey have two children – Landyn and Cameron.
