Former Penn State star Derek Moye poised to coach Western Beaver football

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 | 5:48 PM

Western Beaver and Lincoln Park administrators want a coach who can spark some excitement in their combined football program.

So, Derek Moye is their pick.

Pending school board approval Wednesday, the former Penn State wideout will become Western Beaver’s next football coach. Moye played at nearby Rochester, was a star for the Nittany Lions and caught a touchdown for the Steelers during a brief NFL career.

“We believe Derek is a great football mind but also a splash hire,” Lincoln Park athletic director Mike Bariski said. “He’s a hire that brings additional credibility to the program. We’re real fortunate to get him.”

Moye has years of playing experience, but his coaching career started only last fall.

The 30-year-old coached Aliquippa’s wide receivers as a first-year assistant under Mike Warfield. Moye also operates Moye Sports Training, a personal training company that helps athletes improve their speed.

“I love football, and I have a passion for working with kids and having a positive impact in their lives,” Moye said. “So (coaching) just made a lot of sense.”

Western Beaver athletic director Ryan Matsook was an assistant coach at Rochester when Moye played there. Western opened its head coaching job in November after choosing to replace Matt Gray, the team’s coach for 18 seasons.

Students at Lincoln Park can play football for Western Beaver through a cooperative sponsorship agreement. Lincoln Park has a successful boys basketball program but doesn’t field its own football team.

Matsook said during the coaching search that he wanted a candidate who could attract players from both schools. Western Beaver received nine football players from Lincoln Park this past season, bolstering its approximately 30-player roster.

Western Beaver went 3-7 overall last season, 2-5 in the WPIAL Class 2A Midwestern Conference.

“(The program) is unique in some ways because of the Lincoln Park aspect,” Moye said. “Having the ability for kids to go there and be able to play for our football team is a great opportunity and a great thing for Western Beaver football.”

As a high school football player, Moye was a two-time Trib Terrific 25 selection. The multi-purpose back scored 31 touchdowns as a senior in 2006 and led Rochester to the WPIAL finals three years in a row.

That small-school Beaver County experience helps him relate with Western Beaver’s challenges. However, his success after graduation should earn him some instant credibility with his players.

Moye ranks sixth all-time at Penn State in career receiving yards with 2,395 and tied for fourth with 18 career touchdown catches. As an undrafted free agent, Moye spent time with the Steelers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans.

“I think my experience beyond high school into college and professionally is going to help,” Moye said. “Not even necessarily from an Xs and Os standpoint, but from a relatability standpoint. The kids know that I’ve done it, so they’ll probably listen a lot more.”

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Lincoln Park