WHS Baseball Faces Vacancy as Coach Takes Job in Derry

The head coach who will always be known for building the Windham High School baseball program from scratch is moving to a new town.

After starting his teaching career at Pinkerton Academy in 2008, Derek Lee will return to the Derry school to serve as chair of their social studies department.

Lee, 29, referred to his new gig as a vertical move. At Windham, he taught courses in AP Economics, Economics, American Studies and Cultural Foundations.

"Pinkerton traditionally has been a school that their department chairs have been teaching in the department for over 20 years and then they become a department chair," Lee said. "I think (they are) wanting to change a few things. They're very traditional. It does feel good to obtain a position like that being still under 30 years old."

Lee will still be able to teach one class in his new position.

Lee leaves behind a Windham baseball squad that made an unexpected run to the Division II state semifinals after finishing just 6-11 the previous year.

He said that the idea of turning around a program and leading them to success was more rewarding than it would be to coach a dominant 16-0 team to a state championship run.

"I want to keep my relationship with (the team) in any way. If they need college help, offseason training – I'm there for them."

Lee will oversee over two dozen staff members in his new role, and he will have to put the coaching aspect of his life aside.

The Pinkerton Academy squad is led by the young Steve Campo, who actually played high school baseball with Lee.

Lee's background in coaching started at Alvirne High School, where he was a junior varsity coach for two years. His dad has served as Alvirne's varsity coach since 1983.

He also served as head coach for American Legion Baseball – Hudson Post 48 from 2008 to 2010. There he saw a similar situation to Windham, where he took a young team that didn't make the playoffs to the championship round the following year.

Lee called the Windham coaching role "one of the most rewarding experiences" he had ever been part of."

"I have no complaints about the Windham School District. I think leaving the kids was the hardest part because I developed so many good relationships with them."

Lee now lives in Londonderry with his wife and their 1-year-old son.

Windham High has not announced who will fill the coaching vacancy left by Lee.