Derek Stingley Named Sportexe af2 Coach of the Year
August 13, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - South Georgia Wildcats' Head Coach DEREK STINGLEY has been named the Sportexe af2 Coach of the Year, as selected by a vote of his fellow arenafootball2 head coaches and media members. Stingley becomes the first African American coach to win the honor in the league's nine-year history.
In his second season with South Georgia, Stingley guided the Wildcats to a 12-4 regular season record in 2008 and the team's first South Division title. It was also the organization's first division championship since moving from Fayetteville, N.C. to Albany, Ga. prior to the 2005 season.
The Wildcats were 5-4 after their first nine games before running off a seven-game win streak to close out the regular season. One of their victories during the streak was a 57-55 road win at Spokane in Week 13, handing the Shock their only loss of 2008. South Georgia finished in the Top-10 in a host of categories, including scoring offense, scoring defense, passing offense, rushing defense, passing yards, touchdown passes and interceptions.
Two of his players earned American Conference All-af2 First Team honors this season, WR/ST P.J. BERRY and DB ROLAND COLA.
Since arriving in South Georgia in 2007, Stingley has guided the Wildcats to back-to-back seasons of at least 10 wins coupled with two straight trips to the postseason. In his three and half seasons as an af2 head coach, he has recorded 37 wins and an overall record of 37-25 (.597).
He began his af2 coaching career in 2005 as the defensive coordinator for the Macon Knights before taking over midway through the season. After the team's 2-4 start, Stingley helped direct the Knights to a 6-4 finish over the final 10 games.
Before getting into coaching, Stingley enjoyed an eight-year playing career in the Arena Football League. He won an ArenaBowl Championship in 1999 as a member of the Albany Firebirds and earned All-Arena honors that season as well. Stingley currently ranks among the League's all-time leaders in tackles and pass breakups.
The 2008 af2 playoffs continue this weekend with the American and National Conference Championship games on Saturday, August 16. The American Conference Championship will feature the No. 4 seed Tennessee Valley Vipers playing host to the No. 7 seed Manchester Wolves at 8:30 p.m. ET. In the National Conference Championship, the West Division and No. 1 seed Spokane Shock host the No. 7 seed Amarillo Dusters at 10:00 p.m. ET. The winner of each Conference Championship will meet in the 2008 ArenaCup title game in two weeks.
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