Ironman Insider: Derek Stingley
Tom Goodhines
Tuesday July 25, 2000
The 1999 first-team, All-Arena defensive specialist has blazoned a trail to the AFL with superior athletic ability, instinct, and charisma.
But Stingley didn’t take the traditional route into professional football. As a matter of fact, he was chasing fly balls as a center fielder in Clearwater, FL for the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league baseball team before deciding that he wanted to chase offensive specialists in the AFL.
Before pursuing his major league dream on the diamond, Derek played high school football, as well as baseball, in Baton Rouge, La., but didn’t play college football while attending Purdue University. He believed his future was in baseball. But after three seasons in the minor leagues, Derek saw his career in baseball coming to a dead-end.
 Derek Stingley takes a breather during pre-game warmups Image courtesy of Dave Williams |
That was when Derek first considered leaving baseball and following in his father’s footsteps – a career in football.
Some people might draw the conclusion that the Albany Firebird defensive stand-out and son of former New England Patriot, Darryl Stingley, would find himself in the shadow of his famous father. But, Derek doesn’t have that view.
“I don’t think that at all,” Stingley said about the notion of being overshadowed by his father. “If anything, it has served as a stepping stone and put me in the spotlight to help show my talents.”
Before Derek made the switch to the gridiron, he talked to his father and asked for his thoughts on the career change. “He was excited,” Derek said. “He was, and still is, 100 percent behind me in whatever I do. When I told him [about playing football], he had that look in his eyes – I could tell that he was excited to see me pursue a career in football.”
Derek first considered football when he was contacted by the Louisiana Bayou Thunder about playing for the semi-pro team in 1995. After contemplating the decision and consulting his father, Derek took the chance and made the move.
Derek was a natural. His career took off as he was named Defensive Player of the Year and he returned 12 combined kickoffs and punts for touchdowns in his first full season of football since high school.
The success led Derek to think about playing at the next level and ultimately – the NFL. “I think everyone who has ever played the game of football has had visions of playing in the NFL,” Stingley said. Derek created a highlight tape and sent it to teams around the NFL, Canadian Football League and the AFL.
The CFL and AFL came calling, but the NFL did not.
Former Albany Firebird head coach and current New England Sea Wolves’ head man, Mike Hohensee was the most persistent in the pursuit of Derek’s services. “He kept calling me,” Derek said of Hohensee. “I told him that I didn’t think that I wanted to do Arena Football and he said that he would always have a spot for me with the Firebirds.”
Well, Stingley did do Arena Football – and has done it well.
Stingley joined the Firebirds in 1996, where he was primarily on injured reserve the first year with a hand injury. But the following four seasons, he has become the team’s all-time leader in tackles (214), pass breakups (61), and assisted tackles (97). Derek is also second in career interceptions with 14.
“Every time I see coach Hohensee, I thank him,” Stingley said. “When I first [came into the league,] I didn’t give the credit to the league that I should have. This is a tough sport to play and a lot of guys wouldn’t be able to play here, but I’m glad that I’m here.”
The AFL was a nice fit for Stingley, and he has even drawn high praises from some of the league’s legends. “Derek has all the tools,” said AFL Hall of Famer and former Albany defensive coach, Durwood Roquemore. “Not many defensive backs have the potential or ability to take control of a game, but Derek is one of those players that can have an affect on the outcome of a game from the defensive backfield.”
Stingley’s intensity and ability on the field has also won him respect from some of the league’s elite players. “Derek is all class,” said 1999 Ironman of the Year, Hunkie Cooper. “When he’s out on the field, he plays like the biggest guy in the arena. He’ll knock your head off with a big hit, but he’ll be the first one to offer you a hand to get up. That says a lot about who he is both on and off the field.”
Helping opponents up after making a tackle has become a trademark of the talented defensive specialist. “That’s the way I am,” Derek said. “Some of my teammates say I’m too nice to the other team, but I look at it differently. I see it as an opportunity to make another big play. I’m not out there to end players’ careers or make enemies – we’re all out there for the love of the game. If I bring a guy down hard – I’ll make sure he’s alright, so that I can do it again on the next play.”
Cooper, the Arizona Rattlers’ star and leading candidate for this year’s Ironman award, added that Stingley’s potential in the AFL has not been reached yet. “Guys like Derek are this league’s future,” Cooper said. “I think Derek is a guy that, if he wanted to, could excel on the offensive side of the ball as well. He’s got a lot of raw talent. As an opponent, you like playing against guys like Derek because you know that he’s going to bring everything he’s got – and that makes you play harder. It brings out the best in you.”
Last season, Derek was signed to the New York Jets’ practice squad. He was eventually released as a victim of the “numbers game” but the defensive standout has not been deterred from continuing to excel on the field. “I really learned a lot,” Stingley said of his experience with the Jets. “It was discouraging to be cut, but I’ve used the experience to improve my game. I learned a lot about defensive techniques from [Bill] Belichick.”
Stingley said that the former Jets’ defensive coach and current New England Patriot head coach helped him with defensive positioning, how to react to receivers, and how to take different angles on pass routes. “That is stuff that I can take with me,” Stingley said. “You can’t get that kind of schooling just anywhere. I was being instructed by some of the best in the business and I’m thankful for that.”
His time with the Jets also gave him a taste of what options may lie ahead. “Who knows where I’ll be next year,” Derek said. “Albany is a great place, but if I get another shot with the NFL – you never know. I just have to keep my options open.”
One thing that Derek does know – last year’s championship gave him a craving for a repeat performance.
“Winning the championship [in 1999] was an awesome feeling,” Stingley said. “Getting back to that game this year has served as motivation for the whole team. We all know what it took to get there and we want to do it again.”
So, it won’t be a surprise when the Albany Firebirds find themselves in the spotlight during this year’s playoffs – nor will it be a surprise to find Derek Stingley front and center.
Coach has a fatherly influence: Upon arriving in the AFL, Derek said he wanted to be one of the best – so he studied the best. Derek was fortunate that the person that he studied most turned out to be his first AFL defensive coach, Durwood Roquemore. “Coach [Roquemore] has been like a father to me,” Stingley said. “He was the one that taught me how to be a student of the game and how to prepare for a games by knowing the opponent.”
“Coach Rock” said that Stingley is a good student.
“Derek’s ego isn’t so big that he can’t learn from others,” Roquemore said. “I think that is one of his best traits – his willingness to continue to learn and his ability to be a leader and teach others about the game.”
Respected opponents: Stingley lists Arizona’s Hunkie Cooper, Milwaukee’s Alvin Ashley, and former Iowa Barnstormer and current San Diego Charger, Kevin Swayne as some of the toughest to cover in the league. “All of those guys forced me to make sure that I was on my game that night,” Stingley said. “But going up against a guy like [recently retired] Eddie Brown every day in practice certainly helped me prepare for those guys.”
Getting defensive: Defensive specialists, like kickers, are a breed of their own – at least that’s how Stingley sees it. “There should be an award that recognizes the top defensive back in the league,” Stingley said. “I think [defensive backs] get overlooked when it comes to [the AFL’s Defensive Player of the Year] award.”
Derek points to the fact that Orlando’s Kenny McEntyre was not named to an All-Arena team last season as proof of how deep the talent is in that position. “[McEntyre] was a guy that deserved some recognition last year, and I think he should get some serious consideration for the defensive award this year,” Stingley said.
Stingley lists Arizona’s Cecil Doggette and Cedric Walker along with Orlando’s Damon Mason and McEntyre as the top defensive specialists in the AFL.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
