Derek DeVaughn is the eighth head coach in the history of the Northeast Mississippi Community College men’s golf program.

The Tigers have achieved unmatched success in DeVaughn’s five years in charge. Among his accomplishments are the first team appearance at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament and winning the Tigers’ inaugural state championship.

Northeast wrapped up its initial berth to nationals with a third place showing at the 2023 NJCAA Gulf District Tournament. John Daniel Deaton led the way by obtaining all-tournament distinction with a two-under-par 142.

The Tigers were crowned as the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) champs in 2021 after holding off Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College by four shots.

Tate Dickerson, Jake Kilcrease and Carson Wilder were each on the all-tournament listing while Austin Lauderdale was in the top 10 as well. Dickerson went on to earn NJCAA first-team All-American accolades one year later as a sophomore.

His most recent team was the runner-up at events at Mossy Oak Golf Club and Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. Alabamians Codey Cleveland and Jackson Williams were both all-conference selections.

DeVaughn resurrected a program in the fall of 2019 with a lot of tradition. The Tigers boasted two region titles, four All-Americans and 12 players that qualified for the national tournament as individuals before being temporarily discontinued after the 2016-17 season.

DeVaughn knows first-hand about Northeast’s past achievements on the links. He was a member of the Tigers’ back-to-back NJCAA Region 23 championship teams from 2007-08.

The Marietta native quickly made an impact by securing all-tournament recognition at Northeast’s second event of the 2007 season at Hinds Community College’s Eagle Ridge Golf Club.

DeVaughn was a key piece to coach Craig Lauderdale’s five-man lineup during his inaugural campaign on the Booneville campus. Among his regular season scores was a two-day total of 157 at Mallard Pointe Golf Course in Sardis.

He pieced together a solid scorecard of 86-82--168 to help the Tigers capture their first-ever regional crown in school history at Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Wolf Hollow Golf Club.

Northeast advanced to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament at Chautauqua Golf Club in New York and placed 11th overall. The Tigers rose to as high as No. 3 in the national rankings during DeVaughn’s freshman year.

DeVaughn became one of Northeast’s top leaders on the course as a sophomore. He finished fifth in the individual standings at the fourth Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) tour stop of the regular season at Co-Lin to earn all-tournament honors.

He later posted a cumulative score of 166 to lift the Tigers to their second straight NJCAA Region 23 championship at Forest Country Club and secure another trip to Jamestown, N.Y., for the national tournament.

DeVaughn, who was named to the NJCAA All-Region 23 team in 2008, was recognized as the most dedicated golfer during both of his campaigns at Northeast. He also received the prestigious Tiger Award in 2008 for his good standing both on and off the field of competition.

DeVaughn, who graduated from nearby New Site High School, is an industrial maintenance technology instructor at Northeast as well. He is married to Misty and the couple has two sons, Webb and Will.