Derrick Isaac

Derrick Isaac (Coach Deev) is a dedicated running coach whose journey with the sport began more than 20 years ago on the high school track and cross country course. Born and raised in New York City, he grew up immersed in one of the most vibrant running communities in the world, regularly running with local run clubs, taking on leadership roles, and coaching runners across a wide range of distances and abilities. What began as a passion for competition has evolved into a lifelong commitment to running, coaching, and community. Derrick competed at multiple levels, including a brief stint on the Division I track team at Temple University, and continues to run to this day. A military veteran with a strong foundation in discipline and leadership, he brings both structure and resilience to his coaching approach. In 2022, Derrick relocated to Delaware and quickly expanded his presence in the regional running community. Since then, he has built strong ties with running organizations across Delaware, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., continuing to coach and support athletes throughout the Mid-Atlantic running scene. He is a VDOT O2 Certified Coach and an RRCA Level 1 Certified Coach, combining evidence-based training principles with practical experience built from years of personal racing. His race history spans countless road races across all distances, including three marathons, giving him firsthand understanding of what it takes to train for and complete endurance goals of all sizes. Derrick specializes in coaching beginners, first-time 5K runners, and marathoners. He has guided multiple athletes through their first 5K finish lines, supported runners completing their first marathons, and helped athletes achieve meaningful marathon personal records. His coaching focus is not just on performance, but on building sustainable habits that last far beyond a single race. His philosophy is simple and consistent: **consistency beats perfection**. He believes progress is built through steady effort, realistic planning, and training that fits into real life—not the other way around. Athletes working with Derrick value his accountability, communication, empathy, encouragement, discipline, humor, and his lived experience balancing training with work and family life. He understands the realities of busy schedules and designs coaching that meets athletes where they are while still moving them forward. Whether the goal is finishing a first 5K or chasing a marathon PR, Derrick’s coaching centers on one mission: helping runners build confidence, stay consistent, and discover what they’re capable of when they commit to the process.