Derry tabbed to helm Pemberton boys basketball program

Pemberton has turned to a familiar face to help revive its boys basketball program. This week the Pemberton board approved the hiring of Ryan Derry to the post.

Derry comes to the Hornets with six years of head coaching experience at Burlington Township Derry's teams went 88-68 with trips to the 2018 Central Jersey Group 3 and 2022 South Jersey Group 3 championship games.

"Roy Heck hired me to coach on his staff and I coached baseball at Pemberton," Derry said. "It was my first job after college. It's where I started this journey as a teacher and coach. I know deep down in my core that I can be the guy that will bring that Pemberton pride back, and bring that stability back, to that basketball program. I cannot be more excited."

Derry has assistant coaching experience under two familiar Burlington County coaches, Heck and, most recently, Derry served as an assistant at Rancocas Valley under coach Jay Flanagan.

"I can't be more appreciative of the guys that have shaped me to be the person I am," Derry said. " I started my high school basketball career under coach Barry Harper. I learned from my college coach. I've been surrounded by so many great individuals who showed me how to be the best version of myself. We want to teach the kids that they can be the best version of themselves."

Pemberton won just two games last winter. The Hornets and Derry will make rebuilding a positive atmosphere for the team the first priority.

"Opening night can't come soon enough," Derry said. "Every single day we're just trying to be the best version ourselves we can be. We just want to keep stacking good days, with the end goal that we always keep in mind. We're going to be the best versions of ourselves. We're going to compete on the court and play as hard as we possibly can play."

Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Derry tabbed to helm Pemberton boys basketball program