PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State football head coach Mike Leach announced Thursday that Derek Sage has been hired as the Cougars' inside receivers coach. He replaces JaMarcus Shephard, who had been in the position for one year.
 
"Derek is a proven receivers coach who will blend in well with our program and hit the ground running," said Leach. "He brings a great deal of energy, passion, understands our offensive philosophy and has a great reputation as a coach and recruiter."
 
Sage arrives at WSU following three seasons as the receivers coach at the University of Toledo. This past season Toledo finished with a 9-4 record and an appearance in the Camellia Bowl. In 2016 Sage guided a Rockets receiving group that saw two players earn All-Mid-American Conference honors after catching 10+ touchdowns led by first-team selection Cody Thompson with 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns.
 
In his three seasons at Toledo, the Rockets combined for a 28-10 record, went to three bowl games, winning two, and improved from 234.2 passing yards per game in 2014 to 322.8 in 2016.
 
Sage arrived at Toledo following a four-year stint as the receivers coach at Wyoming, where he coached with current Cougar defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. In 2013, Sage mentored Cowboy wide receiver Robert Herron, who finished his career as the school's No. 4 all-time leader in touchdown catches with 20 and later played in the 2014 Reese's Senior Bowl.
 
Prior to his stint at Wyoming, Sage was the wide receivers coach at New Hampshire from 2005-09, again working with Grinch as well as Chip Kelly. UNH earned bids to the FCS playoffs in each of Sage's five seasons with the program, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009 and making it to the first round in 2007.
 
While at New Hampshire, Sage coached some of the greatest receivers in school history, including All-American David Ball. Ball set New Hampshire receiving records for career receptions (304) and career receiving yards (4,655). He also became the NCAA career leader in TD receptions with 58, breaking Jerry Rice's previous record of 51 at Mississippi Valley State.
 
Sage arrived at New Hampshire from the University of Nevada, where he helped coach the defensive backfield as a graduate assistant in 2003 and the wide receivers as a graduate assistant in 2004. At Nevada he worked alongside current Cougar coaches Jim Mastro and Ken Wilson.
 
A native of Sparks, Nev., Sage played tight end for Sacramento City College for two years (1998-99), helping win conference and bowl championships at the junior college level. He completed his college career at Cal State Northridge, where he won two letters at tight end in 2000 and 2001 before earning his bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2002.
 
Sage and his wife Mandy have two children, daughter Piper, and son, Casen.