Bio

Derek Shell enters his 5^th season as the head coach of the men’s basketball program in 2020-2021.

The Trailblazers are coming off their most successful season under Shell reaching the MASCAC tournament semifinals for the second time in the last three years. During his tenure at MCLA Shell has coached two MASCAC rookies of the year as well as two all-conference performers.

The year prior to arriving in North Adams, Shell served as an assistant coach at Anna Maria College as the Amcats advanced to the2016 ECAC New England Championship game. 

Shell was the head coach at MASCAC rival Fitchburg State University from 2006-2013. In his seventh and final season with the Falcons, his team captured the program’s first ever MASCAC Tournament Championship and made their first ever NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. In 2008, Shell was named the MASCAC Coach of the Year as he led his program into the ECAC New England Regional Tournament. 

Shell also serves as the head coach for the MCLA men’s and women’s tennis programs as well as being the assistant communications director for the athletic department.