Derrick Wrobel - Men's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Derrick Wrobel

Title:
Assistant Coach
Years at GCU:
2nd
Email:
derrick.wrobel@gcu.edu
Alma Mater:
Arizona State (2001)

Road to GCU
YEAR	SCHOOL	POSITION
1997-98	Ole Miss	Student Manager
1998-01	Arizona State	Student Manager
2001-06	Arizona State	Dir. of Ops
2006-10	California	Dir. of External
2010-15	St. John's	Asst. to the HC
2016-21	Arizona State	Dir. of Ops
2021-24	Washington State	Asst. Coach
2024-25	Stanford	Asst. Coach
2025-26	GCU	Chief of Staff
2026-	GCU	Asst. Coach

Derrick Wrobel is in his second season on the Grand Canyon men's basketball staff in 2026-27 and serves as an assistant coach.

Wrobel brings more than two decades of major college basketball experience to GCU, having worked with nine NCAA Tournament teams during a career that has included stops at Ole Miss, Arizona State, California, St. John's, Washington State and Stanford.

He joined head coach Bryce Drew's staff in 2025 and helped GCU make a successful transition to the Mountain West serving as Chief of Staff in his first season with the program. The Lopes tied for third place with a 13-7 conference record, becoming the most successful debuting team in MW history. GCU split with eventual conference champion Utah State and swept second-place San Diego State.

Wrobel came to GCU after working on Kyle Smith's staffs at Washington State and Stanford. His time with Washington State included the Cougars' 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance, while his lone season at Stanford marked the Cardinal's first as a member of the ACC.

His career also includes five seasons at Arizona State under Bobby Hurley, five seasons at St. John's working with head coach Steve Lavin and Hall of Fame coach Gene Keady, and stops at California and Ole Miss.

The move to GCU also represented a return to the Valley for Wrobel. He graduated from Arizona State and began his professional career there, spending four years as the Sun Devils' director of basketball operations after previously serving as a student manager.

Wrobel's connection to Drew dates back even further. As a freshman student manager at Ole Miss in 1998, Wrobel was on the opposing side when Drew hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer known as "The Shot" to give No. 13 seed Valparaiso an NCAA Tournament upset of fourth-seeded Ole Miss.

After following head coach Rob Evans from Ole Miss to Arizona State, Wrobel built a career working in several areas of college basketball operations and coaching. His experience has included program administration, recruiting, scouting, player development and day-to-day team operations while working alongside accomplished coaches throughout the country.

Wrobel has emphasized attitude, work ethic and pride throughout his career, values that aligned with GCU's program and university culture when he returned to Phoenix in 2025.

Wrobel and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Zach and Addison.