3 Periods: Wheeling Nailers coach Derek Army becomes new franchise leader in career wins

Having a robust farm system is a major part of the foundation for any professional sports team.

Given the successes of their two minor-league affiliates this season, Pittsburgh Penguins management has plenty of reasons to be happy, even if the NHL club stares down a third consecutive season of missing the playoffs.

But for both the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, postseason hockey will soon be on deck.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs, and Wheeling is bound for the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

First-year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach Kirk MacDonald, aided by a retooled roster featuring emerging talents such as goalie Sergei Murashov and wingers Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen and Tristan Broz, deserves credit for the job he’s done so far.

But the work of Wheeling coach Derek Army has flown somewhat under the radar.

Piling up victories

On March 29, Army became the winningest coach in Nailers franchise history, notching victory No. 148 as the Nailers defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones, 4-1.

Your NEW Leader in All-Time Wins in Wheeling Nailers History: Derek Army ????

With tonight’s win, Derek Army officially passes Clark Donatelli for most wins as head coach in Wheeling Nailers history!

Congratulations Coach! #ForgeTheFuture pic.twitter.com/7bbcGCcEas

— x - Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) March 30, 2025

Army, Wheeling’s head coach since 2021, surpassed Clark Donatelli (2011-15), under whom Army once played.

Army’s impact with the Nailers has not escaped the attention of Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, who complimented the soon-to-be 34-year-old Wheeling coach who played parts of five seasons (2014-18) as a forward with the club.

“I’ve had a lot of interaction with Derek,” Sullivan said. “He’s always part of our coaches’ meetings in the offseason and the leadup to training camp. He’s around our training camp, he sits in on all of our meetings during training camp and I think he’s a really good young coach. He brings a ton of energy, he’s passionate about what he does and he has an appetite to learn and get better.”

Point producers

Army’s fourth full season at the helm in Wheeling has seen the Nailers close in on their best season in nearly a decade.

Through Thursday, they sat in second place in the North Division with 82 points.

Not since accumulating 83 in 2015-16 has a Nailers team finished with more points.

The Nailers that season, with Army on roster, finished as runners-up for the Kelly Cup.

An additional season highlight for Army and the Nailers was a franchise-record 13-game winning streak from Nov. 8 to Dec. 20.

Player to coach

As a player in Wheeling, Army was productive, scoring 59 goals with 71 assists for 130 points in 159 games.

Now as coach, Army continues to make an impact.

“I think the relationships that he builds with his players is another one of his strengths,” Sullivan said. “They compete hard for him. He’s done a great job in Wheeling, and I would anticipate his career only getting better moving forward. He’s a bright, young coach.”