Recently completing his fifth and final season with the UBC Thunderbirds, quarterback Derek Engel has been named the 2025-26 recipient of the program's prestigious Courage of Casey Award.

The Courage Casey Award honours the legacy of former UBC Football Head Coach Casey Smith. Throughout his career with the Thunderbirds, Derek Engel has demonstrated the traits coach Smith believed a Thunderbird student-athlete should embody: "Citizenship, Athletics, Scholarly, Excellence, Youth."
 
The former Grapevine Mustang was a five year varsity letterman for the Thunderbirds, and was named offensive team captain in 2025. Derek was one of nine U SPORTS quarterbacks from across the nation who were provided the opportunity to take part in CFL Rookie Camps and Training Camps as part of the league's QB Internship Program, attending the BC Lions camp in April of 2024.
 
A key contributor throughout his career at quarterback and on special teams, Engel's time at UBC has been highlighted by back-to-back Canada West Hardy Cup Final appearances in 2022 and 2023, winning the Kalamalka Bowl in 2022. He led the T-Birds to an 18-17 victory over cross town rival SFU in the 34^th edition of the Shrum bowl. With 1:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, Derek guided the Thunderbirds down the field on a game-winning 12 play, 65-yard drive, scoring the go ahead TD on a QB keep. Under his leadership the 'Birds gained over 372 offensive yards.
 
His career also included both the Hardy Cup and Mitchell Bowl championships in 2023 followed by an appearance in the Vanier Cup national championship vs. the Montreal Carabins on November 28th in Kingston, Ontario.
 
Derek had his best single game performance vs. the Regina Rams on Sept. 12^th 2025, throwing 21-of-29 for 297 yards with the single game highest completion ranking of the season at 72.4 per cent. Engel finished his T-Bird career with 2,293 passing yards, 66 carries for 284 rushing yards and now ranks third in most rushing TD's in a season by a QB with 4 in 2023 and third in career TD's by a QB with 9 (2021-25).
 
Derek is an outstanding student-athlete, his dedication to the program and his leadership both on and off the field is respected by both his teammates and coaching staff.


 
Overview includes:

• Volunteered at the UBC/Ukraine children's football camp (2022) Team member at UBC Football recruiting ID camps (2022-25)
• Team leader for the Athletes in Action and the book club under the mentorship of Rod Alm (2023-25)
•  Volunteered at the provincial level with RAW Sports (2024-25)
• Team member at the annual VPD Gang Tackle football program, an annual anti-gang initiative held at UBC pairing at-risk youth with police officers, professional athletes, and UBC Thunderbird alumni for flag football (2022-25)

The Courage of Casey Award was first presented in 1999 to honour the former Thunderbird team captain and 1997 Vanier Cup championship Head Coach, Casey Duane Smith (MKin – Coaching Science). Since his passing it has been awarded annually to the player who best exemplified the traits that Casey held in the highest regard, especially during his time as a Thunderbird.
 
Casey was head coach of the Thunderbirds from 1995 to 1997. Tragically, in 1998 Casey was diagnosed with cancer. Prior to fall training camp, he sent a letter to his players telling them of his illness. The team dedicated the season to him, affixing decals onto each helmet with the words "Courage for Casey" and the number 51, his jersey number during his playing days. At his last public appearance, the 1998 Shrum Bowl, he was presented the Football BC Builders Award while receiving a standing ovation. He was well respected in the coaching world for his knowledge, commitment and for tirelessly promoting the sport.  It is remarkable how many young lives Casey impacted through the UBC summer football camps, as a community speaker, as a coach and as a loyal friend.
 
Speaking at Casey's memorial service, former UBC President Martha Piper said: "there is no need to erect a monument to Casey; there are already hundreds of them."
 
Casey was awarded the Arthur W. Delamont Service Award in 1999, presented each year to those who exemplify Delamont's contribution of service, goodwill and cheerfulness to students and athletes.