Derrick Phelps, the starting point guard on North Carolina's 1993 national championship team, has been named USF's associate head men's basketball coach.
 
In his new role, Phelps will take a lead role in scouting, international recruiting and will work closely with USF's backcourt players.
 
"I feel very fortunate to be able to add Derrick to our coaching staff," said head coach Kyle Smith. "His work ethic and attitude were forged at one of the most renowned programs in the nation under the legendary Dean Smith. Derrick values a team-first culture that prides itself in loyalty to one another. Where ever Derrick goes, he wins. He is a natural leader who will make a great head coach someday. He brings a national championship pedigree that blends well with all of the banners that hang proudly in our facility."
 
Phelps previously served on recently-appointed USF head coach's Kyle Smith's staff at Columbia for the past two seasons. He also spent three seasons (2011-14) as an assistant coach at Monmouth and one year (2010-11) as the video coordinator at Fordham. An integral member of King Rice's staff at Monmouth, Phelps took a lead role in the recruitment of many of the players who were responsible for leading the Hawks to a school-record 28 wins during the 2015-16 season.
 
During his two seasons at Columbia, the Lions posted a 38-25 record, which included a 25-10 mark during the 2015-16 campaign which saw the school capture the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
 
A native of Queens, NY, Phelps enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career with the Tar Heels under legendary head coach Dean Smith from 1990-94. He earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior and honorable mention all-conference accolades as a junior. Phelps was an Associated Press honorable mention All-America selection and was also named to the USBWA All-District Team. He also earned second team All-NABC honors. He holds North Carolina records for most steals in a game (9) and a career (247) and ranks fifth all-time in school history with 637 assists. Phelps is the only player in ACC history to amass 600 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals.
 
Phelps was the first of only three North Carolina players to ever earn the Carmichael Cobb Award, bestowed to the team's most outstanding defensive player of the year, one three occasions. He was also named the Tar Heels team MVP as a senior and played on two Final Four teams, including Carolina's 1993 squad that captured the national championship with a 77-71 victory over Michigan.
 
Phelps began his professional career in 1994 with the Chicago Rockers of the Continental Basketball Associate (CBA). Midway through the '94 season, he was signed for the remainder of the season by the Sacramento Kings and was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995 NBA expansion draft. He also spent time in preseason camps with the Milwaukee Bucks (1994) and Philadelphia 76ers (1997).
 
He also played professionally in Germany, France, Poland, Russia, Romania and the Netherlands. He was selected MVP of the Euroleague in 2001 while playing for Alba Berlin. He retired following the 2009-10 season.
 
A graduate of Christ the King High School in Queens, Phelps led the Royals to the 1989 New York State Championship and was named to the 1990 McDonald's All-America Team as a senior. He was also named to the 1990 Kodak Metropolitan High School All-Star team.
 
Phelps began his coaching career in 2007 as an assistant coach at Christ the King and also served as a player-coach with Clubul Sportiv "Gaz Metan" Medias in Romania.