Meet Coach Derrick Williams! -Grace Kasabula

Derrick Williams is the new boys' tennis coach at North Andover High School.

Q: Tell me a little bit about your experience with playing/coaching tennis in the past.

A: I’ve been very fortunate to have played and coached tennis since 1975. After playing college tennis at Slippery Rock University [located in Slippery Rock, PA], I coached and played in Washington State, California, Hawaii, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

Q: What brought you to North Andover and how have you been enjoying the community so far?

A: I’ve come to N. Andover from Charleston, SC. My oldest daughter, a research doctor at Harvard, had her first baby boy this past October. My wife and I decided to relocate to Massachusetts to be closer to the baby. Other than adjusting to the weather, we’re very happy with our decision. We really like N. Andover. It’s a beautiful town and the people have been very friendly.

Q: What approaches are you taking this year with your new team?

A: The boys on the team are the finest group I’ve ever coached. They work very hard and are a pleasure to be with. Our goal for this tennis season is to make it an experience that our seniors are proud of and never forget.

Q: What is your dream travel destination/adventure?

A: My wife and I love to travel, whether it’s on a plane or car. We’ve been known to just get in the car and decide on a direction and go with no specific destination. It might be 50 miles or 500 miles but every trip brings a new adventure. We also make the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York a “must vacation” annually.