Derek Stingley joins the Pittsburgh Power as the Defensive Coordinator in their second season.  Derek’s AFL coaching career began in the AF2 league in 2005 in Georgia, serving as the defensive coordinator for the Macon Knights. After starting out slow, the Knights promoted Stingley to head coach in May, and he turned the season around, leading his new team to the playoffs. During his two-year tenure with the Knights, Derek had a total of 18 players named to the All-AF2 team.  His success was noticed throughout the AF2 ranks, and it didn’t take long for the South Georgia Wildcats to recruit coach Stingley. After three years with the Wildcats, Stingley posted a 30-13 record and was named “AF2 Head Coach of the Year” in 2008.  In 2009, Derek moved up to the AFL where he served as the defensive coordinator for New Orleans before being named Head Coach of the Voodoo. The Voodoo struggled in his inaugural year, but under Stingley’s tutelage, wide receiver-kick returner PJ Berry was named JLS Ironman of the year after setting an AFL record in all purpose yards.

A heralded two-sport athlete, Stingley first chose a different career path: baseball. Stingley was an outstanding baseball player, and chose to further his education at Purdue University as a centerfielder. Derek was drafted to play for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993, where he spent three seasons in the club’s minor league system before following his true passion of football.  Stingley has nine years of playing experience in the Arena Football League, starting with the Albany Firebirds in 1996. After four years and one Championship with the Firebirds, Stingley’s efforts were recognized as he was selected to the AFL First Team at defensive back, and the AFL 15-year Anniversary Team.  After spending some time on the New York Jets roster, Stingley then went on to play for the Chicago Rush, Arizona Rattlers, Carolina Cobras and the Dallas Desperados before embarking on his coaching endeavor.