Derek HC

Duque Named St. Thomas Flag Football Head Coach

8/27/2025 10:16:00 AM

Miami Gardens, Fla. – With a new era of flag football set to take place within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), St. Thomas University's Associate Vice President of Athletics Bill Rychel announced the Derek Duque as the new Head Coach of the Bobcats' Flag Football program.

Duque has been with the team since its inaugural season in 2021 as an assistant coach, helping guide the Bobcats to a winning record in their second season before three-straight campaigns with double-digit wins. Under his guidance, 24 Bobcats received All-Sun Conference honors, with Jada Graham garnering Offensive Player of the Year distinction in 2023 and 2021.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to building on the foundation that Coach Burzanko has laid in the program," Duque said. "Without him this team wouldn't be where it is now." 

"I am forever grateful to have had Derek by my side starting this program in 2020," Erick Burzanko said. "I would not be where I am today without him, he played a huge part in my success as head coach and the success of the program these past five years. We have established this program together for five years and now it is time for him to take it to new heights. Derek is the right person to lead the next era of The STU Flag Football Program and I am excited for the future of the program under Derek's Leadership." 

No stranger to success, Duque led St. Thomas Aquinas High School to a District Championship this past spring, earning him Broward County Coach of the Year. The previous season he guided them to a Regional Championship. Prior to joining St. Thomas Aquinas, he was a part of Monsignor Edward Pace's coaching staff as an Assistant Coach for two years before a five-year run as their Head Coach, winning five District Championships during his tenure.

Launching as an emerging sport in the NAIA in 2021, the NAIA's National Administration Council Executive Committee approved Women's Flag Football as an invitational sport for the 2025-26 season. Beginning this upcoming spring, the postseason will shift to a qualification-based invitational format.
 
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