Derham Cato is reportedly set to join Washington State University (WSU) as the new tight-ends coach under head coach Kirby Moore. According to 247Sports, Cato’s hiring comes after he spent three seasons at the University of Missouri, signaling a return to the Pacific Northwest where he previously coached for the University of Washington (UW).
Cato served as the tight-ends coach at UW during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. His coaching career began after he completed a four-year stint as an offensive analyst under former head coach Chris Petersen. Following the dismissal of coach Jimmy Lake, Cato transitioned out of coaching for a year to work in sales. This shift was not uncommon among Lake’s former staff, as several coaches faced similar challenges, including Ikaika Malloe and Pete Kwiatkowski, who were both let go from their positions at UCLA and Texas, respectively.
In contrast, not all former UW coaches have experienced setbacks. Keith Bhonapha, who was the running backs coach, recently accepted a role at Oregon State as part of the new coaching staff under JaMarcus Shephard.
Cato is noted for an incident during a game against Oregon State in 2021, where he was accidentally injured by a player during a punt coverage play. The collision resulted in him being taken to a local hospital, though he fortunately did not require surgical intervention. Cato humorously reflected on the experience, stating, “It was more embarrassing than anything, honestly.” He acknowledged the need for greater awareness on the sidelines, saying, “I’ve got to have more awareness. It’s on me.”
As he prepares to join the Cougars, Cato is looking forward to the upcoming season. His first game against UW will be in the highly anticipated Apple Cup, scheduled to take place at Husky Stadium to kick off the 2026 season. With his extensive coaching experience and resilience, Cato’s transition to WSU is seen as a promising opportunity for both him and the program.
