Derek Fulton - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Jack Reeber

Derek Fulton

Title:
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach
Phone:
@CoachDFulton (X)
Year at CMU:
1st year at CMU
Hometown:
Davenport, Iowa
Alma Mater/Year:
Grand View/2016

Derek Fulton joined Matt Drinkall’s Central Michigan coaching staff in December 2024, as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.

Fulton arrives at Central Michigan after serving the last six seasons as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater NAIA Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa from 2019-24. In his six years at Grand View, the Vikings had a record of 72-5. Fulton coached four All-Americans (one quarterback, two wide receivers and one offensive lineman), six Heart of America Offensive Player of the Year Award honorees and one NAIA Player of the Year (quarterback).

He twice earned the Heart of America Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year Award. In 2021, he led an offense that amassed nearly 3,000 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns as Grand View earned a berth in the NAIA national title game. In 2024, he led an offensive attack that amassed over 3,000 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns. In the 2024 NAIA Championship, the Grand View Offense had 485 yards of offense, 353 of that being on the ground, and won the game 35-7.

A four-year starter at quarterback at Grand View from 2012-15, Fulton led the Vikings to a combined 41-6 record and in 2013 earned the Offensive Player of the Game Award in leading Grand View to victory in the national championship game. He was twice named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year and earned American Football Coaches Association NAIA All-American honors in 2014.

He earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in sport management from Grand View and started his coaching career in 2016 at the school as a student assistant running backs coach. Fulton was a graduate assistant at Missouri Western while earning a Master of Applied Science in sport and fitness management.

THE FULTON FILE

Birthdate: September 5, 1993
Hometown: Davenport, Iowa

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Sports Management, Grand View University (Iowa), 2016
Master of Applied Science, Sport and Fitness Management, Missouri Western University, 2018

Coaching Career
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Offensive Coordinator, Grand View University (Iowa), 2019-24
Graduate Assistant/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach/Special Teams, Missouri Western University, 2017-18
Student Assistant/Running Backs Coach, Grand View University (Iowa), 2016

Coaching Accomplishments
Named his league’s Assistant Coach of the Year Assistant Coach of the Year (2019, 2023) … 2024 NAIA national champion … Six consecutive conference titles.

Playing Career
Led Grand View to a combined 41-6 record from 2012-15 as the starting quarterback … Earned the Offensive Player of the Game Award in leading Grand View to victory in the 2013 national championship game … Twice named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year … 2014 NAIA All-American.