Moving Up: Derek Army

Wheeling Nailers, ECHL Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced on July 14th, 2025, that Head Coach Derek Army would be leaving the Nailers bench to take an Assistant Coach position with the AHL Colorado Eagles, AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

Army reached a milestone this past season by becoming the team’s all-time winningest head coach. Olde City Sports Network talked with Army after his milestone and he stated this: “I knew going into the year, I was aware of everything, and to be honest, I was trying to put it at the back of my mind and just worry about everything going on. It was always there, always thinking about it, and DJ would always remind me; my wife reminds me of it. It was something that in this organization with the the history that it has, it's not a five-year organization. This is a long time organization. You go through the list of coaches that have been here; it's a special list. So as it came about, it was very special thinking about just how much I love this organization. Now it is one that I'll kind of probably more digest after the season ends, but for right now, all I can say is how much I love this sort organization to be a top of that is pretty significant and special.”

Army is going to the Colorado Eagles with some familiarity to the Wheeling Nailers of Head Coach Mark Letestu, who played in the 2007-2008 season. Per Wheeling: Army is the sixth head coach to join the AHL ranks behind Tom McVie, Peter Laviolette, Pat Bingham, Stan Drulia, and Clark Donatelli.

Army’s hockey knowledge and intelligence as a coach shone through during interactions with his players and on the ice. Army was always around for his players, supported them, and put them in the best possible position to succeed at the next level. He was an advocate for the city of Wheeling, WV, as well as an integral part of the Wheeling community.

Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network

Photos By: Stacy Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network