EX- NITTANY LION MOYE AMONG NEW COACHES
Former Penn State star among those excited to get shot at leading a program
Derek Moye doesn’t exactly have an extensive coaching resume.
One year as a high school assistant.
That’s it.
But Moye, one of the WPIAL’s newest head coaches, has a football background that sets him apart from even the area’s coaching veterans. He played college football at the highest level and then in the NFL, and he has played under some coaches you might have heard of — Gene Matsook, Joe Paterno and Mike Tomlin.
Moye, 30, is about to begin his first season at Western Beaver. A former star player at Rochester, Moye said he is well prepared and excited to begin the next chapter in his football journey, adding that coaching is something that he was destined to do.
“Looking at it, subconsciously, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “When I finished playing, I worked with kids from a training standpoint. Now making the transition to coaching, it’s something that made a lot of sense.”
Moye is one of 22 head coaches who will be in their first year at a WPIAL school. There are two new coaches in the City League.
As a player, Moye experienced loads of success. He was an allstate performer at Rochester, finished his Penn State career as one of the most productive wide receivers in school history, and spent time in the NFL with the Dolphins, Saints, Steelers and Titans. He last played in 2014.
Moye got his coaching feet wet last season when he coached the wide receivers at Aliquippa. The Quips won WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A titles.
At Western Beaver, Moye has reunited with some familiar faces. Athletic director Ryan Matsook was Moye’s offensive coordinator at Rochester. One of Moye’s assistants is longtime friend Reon Hunter. The two helped Rochester reach the WPIAL Class 1A championship their final three seasons.
Western Beaver went 3- 7 last season. The Golden Beavers, who compete in the Class 2A Midwestern Conference, have not won a playoff game since 2008.
Moye said he learned a lot from his former coaches, and continues to draw from those experiences.
“I’ve definitely been blessed from having the opportunity to learn from some of the best who have done it,” Moye said. “Just being around guys like that on a daily basis, whether you’re trying to or not, you pick up
something. I find myself saying things that coach Paterno or coach Tomlin may have said to me. I laugh to myself because I’ve come full circle.”
When it comes to attractive job openings, the coaching position at Carrick, to most, probably wasn’t one of them. The team’s roster became so thin last season that the Raiders decided to forfeit their final two games. This season, they will play an independent schedule and will not be eligible for the City League playoffs.
This didn’t scare away Brian Nolte, who takes over as coach after spending 10 years as an assistant at Central Catholic, Norwin, Serra Catholic and Baldwin.
“When I found out about the opening, I was excited,” Nolte said. “It’s a job that I went after. I know there’s a need in the community, a need for the boys and the school. For me to be the head coach of the team and offer that support and to be able to give some some futures to boys through coaching, that’s a no- brainer to me. This is everything a coach should want. It’s an opportunity to be able to make an impact, and it’s not just about football.”
After being hired in December, Nolte has spent a lot of time trying to build interest and excitement in the program. It has worked. The Raiders began last season with 20 players and ended with just over a dozen. This season Nolte expects to have 30- 35 players. He said the Raiders have been very competitive in 7- on- 7 tournaments this summer.
Said Nolte: “The City League has gotten a bad rap, and I’m here to change the narrative. I’m here to change the narrative about Carrick.”
Donta Green ( Westinghouse) is the other new coach in the City League.
The Class 5A Allegheny Eight boasts three new coaches, and each has very big shoes to fill. Mike Junko takes over for Jim Render at Upper St. Clair, Chris Lucas replaces Bob Palko at West Allegheny, and Brian DeLallo succeeds Jeff Metheny at Bethel Park. Render is the WPIAL’s all- time leader in wins. Palko has won more WPIAL titles than any other coach. Metheny led Bethel Park to the playoffs each of the past 18 seasons.
Junko, Lucas and DeLallo were all former assistants under their predecessors, so they are well aware of the standards they will try to uphold.
“I think one of the hallmarks of Upper St. Clair football is the physicality,” Junko said. “That’s something that we don’t want to lose. We want to keep that reputation as a physical football team on offense and
defense.”
Palko, who has won eight WPIAL titles, ended a brief coaching retirement by becoming the new coach at Mt. Lebanon. The Class 6A Blue Devils have reached the postseason 10 of the past 11 seasons, but have not reached the WPIAL final since 2000.
A well- known coach who lives in Mt. Lebanon has a new job, and it’s not far from home. Mike Zmijanac, who won six WPIAL titles at Aliquippa, is now running the show at Seton LaSalle. Zmijanac went 0- 10 in his only season at Ringgold.
There has been a coaching swap in the Mon Valley. Former Steel Valley coach Rod Steele is now at West Mifflin, while former West Mifflin coach Ray Braszo is now at Steel Valley. Steele guided Steel Valley to WPIAL Class 2A titles in 2016 and 2018.
While there are some firsttime head coaches this season, a few are no strangers to taking over new programs. Ambridge’s Don Phillips, Bishop Canevin’s T. J. Wiley and Ellwood City’s Joe Lamenza are all seasoned veterans. Phillips previously spent time at Monaca, Rochester, West Allegheny, Center and Ellwood City. Wiley coached at Penn- Trafford, Deer Lakes, Northgate and Vincentian. Lamenza was at West Mifflin, Mohawk and Blackhawk.