Next up on our "Where Are They Now?" series is Grace Derksen ('19). Grace played basketball at Cal Lutheran from 2015-19 and was a four-year starter at guard for the Regals. We got the chance to check up on Grace with a Q&A to see how she's began her professional career.
What years did you attend Cal Lutheran and what made you want to attend the university?
I attended Cal Lutheran from 2015-2019. I got recruited to play basketball and I enjoyed the small school feel, and the location was amazing!
What is your current job, and how did Cal Lutheran prepare you for the position?
My Full-Time job is a Technical Recruiter at a company called Expanxion. I source Software Engineers and tech professionals and place them at small startups in the bay area. My Part-time job is an Assistant coach for the Women's Basketball team at Lewis and Clark College in Portland Oregon. Cal Lutheran taught me to be the hardest worker and give your 100% at everything you do.
How was your experience with the team (while at Cal Lutheran)?
My experience on the team at Cal Lutheran was amazing. It brought me life-long friends and taught me resilience. I learned what hard work looked like and it was great having fun to do something I love every day.
How did being a student-athlete prepare you for your professional career?
Being a Student-athlete taught me to be very coachable in the workforce. Learn from your mistakes. Keeping your head up and pushing through those tough moments. I can give credits to being a student-athlete at Cal Lutheran.
What is your favorite part about the job?
As a technical recruiter, I love that I get to chat with people and help them find a job they may have never heard of before.
As an Assistant Basketball coach, I love that I get to stay connected to the sport I love and work with some awesome athletes. I have learned a lot from the coaching staff and even got to get on the court to help out.
Describe a typical day on the job.
On a busy day, I usually start work around 8 a.m., catch up on emails, check the daily tech news, set up calls for the day and then begin sourcing on LinkedIn. Usually, have an hour lunch and then take the calls I scheduled. I usually end my day around 5:30-6 p.m. and then I head to the Lewis and Clark campus about 30 mins away and help coach from 6:30-8 p.m.
Did you know you always wanted to do this (basketball coach), or when did you know what you wanted to do?
I knew I wanted to coach basketball when I tore my ACL my senior year of basketball. I felt like I lost a part of me when it happened because it ended my career but once I started helping out my coach I began to see that this could be a path for me. I will always have basketball a part of my life in some way.
What are your long-term plans for the future?
As of now, I would love to remain living in Portland, continue to help out with the Lewis and Clark program in any way I can. In the future, I would love to work for a sports organization like the Portland Trailblazers or Portland Thorns and help with their community relations.
Be on the lookout for more alumni stories from our Kingsmen and Regals in the coming weeks.
Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director
