Serving the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi sports performance staff since 2018, Derick Soza was elevated to Associate Director of Sports Performance in July 2023. Soza spent the previous four seasons as an assistant sports performance coach.

Soza has led weight room and conditioning efforts for women's basketball the last two seasons. He's also spent two seasons with volleyball, four seasons with golf and three with each beach volleyball and baseball. Soza also worked stints aiding the men's basketball and soccer programs.
 
Soza has been a part of six SLC Championship squads with the Islanders including three with volleyball, two with beach volleyball and one with women's basketball this past season.

Prior to joining the staff as an assistant in Oct. 2019, he spent over a year as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach on The Island. It came after he interned in the spring 2018 semester on the UTRGV strength and conditioning staff.
 
Soza earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from UTRGV in 2018 and his master's in kinesiology from A&M-Corpus Christi in 2021. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), as well as Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach (SCCC).