ALIQUIPPA – Derek Moye didn’t know what to expect when he answered Mike Warfield’s phone call. But then he heard Aliquippa’s new football coach say “We want you to coach our wide receivers.”
It didn’t take long for Moye, a former wideout who played at the highest levels of the sport, to accept the offer.
“I jumped at the opportunity,” said Moye, a 2007 Rochester graduate.
In high school, Moye lettered in four sports — football, basketball, track and baseball — and was a star in two of them. He earned 1A all-state honors in football three times and played in the Big 33 Classic. As a senior in track, he won Class 2A state titles in the 200 and 400 meters.
A three-year starter at Penn State, he’s in the top 10 of three major receiving categories: eighth with 144 career catches; sixth with 2,395 career receiving yards; and tied for fourth with 18 career touchdown receptions.
Moye then had a brief stint in the NFL, latching on to two practice squads including the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2013, he earned a roster spot with the Steelers, played in seven games and caught two passes for 20 yards, including a TD catch on a pass from Ben Roethlisberger.
“Obviously, Aliquippa has a winning tradition and with the athletes they have each year, they always have talented players,” Moye said. “Looking at some of the players they have this year, from a pure athletic standpoint, I’m really looking forward to working with them.”
Among the wide receivers expected to play for the Quips in 2018 include major-college prospect M.J. Devonshire, Deoveon Crute, Larry Walker and possibly Will Gipson, who played both quarterback and wide receiver last year.
“Having the opportunity to teach them some of the things I learned throughout college and professionally, I think it will be very beneficial to those kids,” said Moye, who works as a personal trainer for local athletes.
Right after Warfield was hired on March 20, he decided to offer assistant coaching positions to Marlin Devonshire and Vashawn Patrick. They had been on the staff of former coach Mike Zmijanac for several years.
Recently, Warfield spoke to an acquaintance who also knew Moye. It was suggested to Warfield that Moye would be an excellent addition to this coaching staff.
“I don’t know Derek, but I knew of him,” said Warfield, a 1987 Aliquippa grad.
“He’s a guy who’s been there, a big-time player at Penn State, a guy who’s played at the next level (in the NFL). And he’s willing to coach our kids. That will project a great positive image for our program.
“Every person I talked to has a lot of respect for him and the type of young man he is. So I got his number and called him. He was excited about it. He’ll be on our staff because of the type of person he is and the positive influence he has on kids.”