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:
2nd 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.

In 2025, Fulton helped guide Central Michigan to its first bowl appearance in four years with a 7-6 overall and a 5-3 mark in MAC play. The Chippewas achieved their highest win total since 2021. Fulton’s tight ends caught 26 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns and also contributed significantly to the CMU run game.

Before arriving at Central Michigan, Fulton spent six seasons as offensive coordinator at NAIA Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, his alma mater, from 2019-24. During that span, the Vikings compiled a 72-5 record. Fulton coached four All-Americans—one quarterback, two wide receivers, and one offensive lineman)—six Heart of America Offensive Player of the Year Award recipients, and one NAIA Player of the Year (quarterback).

He earned the Heart of America Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year Award two times. In 2021, he directed an offense that produced nearly 3,000 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns as Grand View reached the NAIA national title game. In 2024, he engineered an offense that generated over 3,000 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns. In the 2024 NAIA Championship, Grand View accumulated 485 yards—353 rushing—and won 35-7.

Fulton started at quarterback for Grand View from 2012-15, leading the Vikings to a 41-6 record. In 2013, he earned Offensive Player of the Game honors after guiding Grand View to a national championship. He was twice named Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year and received American Football Coaches Association NAIA All-American honors in 2014.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Grand View and launched his coaching career in 2016 as a student assistant running backs coach. Fulton later served as a graduate assistant at Missouri Western while obtaining 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 Assistant Coach of the Year in his league in 2019 and 2023 … 2024 NAIA national champion … Six consecutive conference titles.

Playing Career
As Grand View’s starting quarterback from 2012-15, led the team to a 41-6 record … 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.