Derek Stingley
Encyclopedia
Derek Stingley is a former arena football
Head Coach
for the New Orleans Voodoo
of AFL
. He also had an eight year career as a defensive specialist for the Albany Firebirds
. He played college baseball
at Triton College
. He was selected in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft
as a center fielder by the Philadelphia Phillies
, where he spent three seasons (1993–1995).
wide receiver
Darryl Stingley
, was paralyzed, in a preseason game, after being hit by Oakland Raiders
safety Jack Tatum
on August 20, 1978.
in 1989, where he intended to play both football
and baseball
. However he soon decided that he was too small, at just 5' 10" tall and 150 pounds
, to play Big Ten
football. So he decided to leave Purdue and attended two smaller, junior colleges in Indiana
. Finally graduating from Triton College.
by the Philadelphia Phillies
. He played in the Phillies organization for three seasons before deciding to attempt to play professional football. He began his professional football career playing for the Louisiana Bayou Thunder, a semi-pro football team. He was then signed to an Arena Football League contract by then-head coach of the Albany Firebirds Mike Hohensee
.
On June 14, 1998, Stingley was on the receiving end of a hard hit by Thomas Orr of the New York CityHawks that left him unconscious for 10 minutes, many believing that Stingley, like his father, had been paralyzed by the hit. However, he wasn't paralyzed from the hit. Coincidentally, his father was in attendance at that game. As a result he did miss one game, suffering a concussion from the hit. In 1999, Stingley was signed to the New York Jets
' practice squad. However, he was released by the team after just three practices. On January 15, 2002, Stingley was waived by the Chicago Rush
. In February 2003, Stingley signed with the Carolina Cobras
.
of the af2
, the Arena Football League's minor league
, in 2005
as Defensive Coordinator
, but was promoted to Head Coach
mid-way through the season. He coached the Knights for two seasons. He was able to turn around a losing 2-4 record, finishing the 2005 season at 8-8 and making the playoffs. In the 2006 season, the team again finished 8-8, just missing the playoffs by one game. After spending two seasons with the Knights, he was hired as the head coach of the South Georgia Wildcats
, after Donnie Davis was fired after a 3-13 season.
In 2007, his first season in Georgia, Stingley recorded a 10-6 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. In his second and final season with the Wildcats, he was named the 2008
Coach of the Year after the Wildcats finished with a 12-4 record, winning their final seven games to close out the regular season and captured first place in the league's South Division. The team also finished in the top ten in several statistical categories, including scoring defense, rushing defense and interceptions.
While a head coach in af2, his overall record was 37 wins and 25 losses, a winning percentage of .597, including three postseason appearances.
On November 17, it was announced that Stingley had signed with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
to become the teams Defensive Coordinator.
as their new defensive coordinator. On October 15, 2008 the Voodoo announced that the team was ceasing operations resulting in Stingley's contract being nullified.
On September 16, 2010, he was hired by the New Orleans VooDoo
as their new Head Coach. On June 26, 2011 Derek Stingley was released by the New Orleans Voodoo as the head coach.
wide receiver
Darryl
and Tina Stingley. He currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
along with his wife Natasha and their four children Isis, Nahjha, Derek Jr., and Sanaa. Derek is the youngest of three sons, his siblings, Darryl Stingley Jr and John Shawn Smith.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the New Orleans Voodoo
New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
of AFL
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. He also had an eight year career as a defensive specialist for the Albany Firebirds
Indiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League.The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball...
. He played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at Triton College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
. He was selected in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft
1993 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*Scott Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft....
as a center fielder by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, where he spent three seasons (1993–1995).
Early life
Stingley was just seven years old when his father, New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Darryl Stingley
Darryl Stingley
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley...
, was paralyzed, in a preseason game, after being hit by Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
safety Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
on August 20, 1978.
College career
Stingley enrolled at Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in 1989, where he intended to play both football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. However he soon decided that he was too small, at just 5' 10" tall and 150 pounds
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
, to play Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
football. So he decided to leave Purdue and attended two smaller, junior colleges in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Finally graduating from Triton College.
Professional playing career
Stingley was selected in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft1993 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*Scott Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft....
by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He played in the Phillies organization for three seasons before deciding to attempt to play professional football. He began his professional football career playing for the Louisiana Bayou Thunder, a semi-pro football team. He was then signed to an Arena Football League contract by then-head coach of the Albany Firebirds Mike Hohensee
Mike Hohensee
Michael Louis Hohensee is an American Arena Football League coach who is regarded as one of the best coaches in the history of the AFL. He was hired to guide the Soul's resumption of play after a two-year hiatus starting in 2011. He resigned on July 27, 2011...
.
On June 14, 1998, Stingley was on the receiving end of a hard hit by Thomas Orr of the New York CityHawks that left him unconscious for 10 minutes, many believing that Stingley, like his father, had been paralyzed by the hit. However, he wasn't paralyzed from the hit. Coincidentally, his father was in attendance at that game. As a result he did miss one game, suffering a concussion from the hit. In 1999, Stingley was signed to the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' practice squad. However, he was released by the team after just three practices. On January 15, 2002, Stingley was waived by the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
. In February 2003, Stingley signed with the Carolina Cobras
Carolina Cobras
Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...
.
af2 (2005 - present)
Stingley began his coaching career with the Macon KnightsMacon Knights
The Macon Knights were a professional arena football team, playing in the af2 league. They were a 2001 expansion member of af2. They played their home games at Macon Coliseum. The Knights were owned and operated by Beverly Olson. The Knights were formerly coached by Derek Stingley, who was a...
of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, the Arena Football League's minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
, in 2005
2005 af2 season
The 2005 AF2 season was the sixth season of the AF2. The league champions were the Memphis Xplorers, who defeated the Louisville Fire in Arena Cup VI.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth* Purple indicates division champion...
as Defensive Coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, but was promoted to Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
mid-way through the season. He coached the Knights for two seasons. He was able to turn around a losing 2-4 record, finishing the 2005 season at 8-8 and making the playoffs. In the 2006 season, the team again finished 8-8, just missing the playoffs by one game. After spending two seasons with the Knights, he was hired as the head coach of the South Georgia Wildcats
South Georgia Wildcats
The South Georgia Wildcats were a professional arena football team. They were a 2002 expansion member of af2, the minor league for the Arena Football League...
, after Donnie Davis was fired after a 3-13 season.
In 2007, his first season in Georgia, Stingley recorded a 10-6 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. In his second and final season with the Wildcats, he was named the 2008
2008 af2 season
The 2008 AF2 season was the ninth season of the AF2. The regular season began on Friday, March 28 and ended on Saturday, July 26. The league champions were the Tennessee Valley Vipers, who beat the Spokane Shock in ArenaCup IX.-Standings:...
Coach of the Year after the Wildcats finished with a 12-4 record, winning their final seven games to close out the regular season and captured first place in the league's South Division. The team also finished in the top ten in several statistical categories, including scoring defense, rushing defense and interceptions.
While a head coach in af2, his overall record was 37 wins and 25 losses, a winning percentage of .597, including three postseason appearances.
On November 17, it was announced that Stingley had signed with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport...
to become the teams Defensive Coordinator.
Arena Football League (2009)
On September 16, 2008, he was hired by the New Orleans VooDooNew Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
as their new defensive coordinator. On October 15, 2008 the Voodoo announced that the team was ceasing operations resulting in Stingley's contract being nullified.
On September 16, 2010, he was hired by the New Orleans VooDoo
New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
as their new Head Coach. On June 26, 2011 Derek Stingley was released by the New Orleans Voodoo as the head coach.
Personal
Stingley is the youngest child of former New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Darryl
Darryl Stingley
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley...
and Tina Stingley. He currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
along with his wife Natasha and their four children Isis, Nahjha, Derek Jr., and Sanaa. Derek is the youngest of three sons, his siblings, Darryl Stingley Jr and John Shawn Smith.
External links
- New Orleans VooDoo profile
- South Georgia Wildcats profile
- Macon Knights profile
- Profile at Scout.comScout.comScout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
- Profile at Baseball Reference