The Montgomery Catfish Organization has kept so much close to the vest this offseason that many may wonder what they have going on in the River Region, but trust us when we say the behind-the-scenes work is nothing to scoff at. Trust us!
Hiring Derrick Zeigler as the OL/DL Coach for 2027 is another example of hiring who you want, not just who you can. The average arena fan may not dive deep into rosters, but if you do…. You’ll find Derrek on a ton of them.
Playing Career:
Derrick Zeigler started his playing career in the small town of Holtville, Alabama, at Holtville High School. After a standout four years of Alabama 4A football, he would take his talents to NE Mississippi Community College, where once again he would gain notice. This time the notice wouldn’t turn into a high-level offer, but an offer to Concordia-Selma, a small NAIA school (now defunct) closer to home.
Like so many guys still hungry for the sport of football, he still had dreams of playing the sport and took a gamble. He would show up, pay his way, and show out, making the Alabama Hammers active roster for the 2012 season. He wouldn’t waste the opportunity; that tryout would ultimately turn into a fourteen-season career that is rivaled by almost no one in the modern version of the game. Many people point to Nate Davis when you mention long successful careers in the sport of arena football, but you can leave Zeigler out of the conversation.
If you consider how rough the OL position is on the body, the fact that he was able to play for nearly a decade and a half is simply mind-boggling. The fact that he was able to maintain that for so long and be named to first-team honors in every league he played in is simply unheard of.
Absolute dominance in every league from the PIFL, NAL, and AF1, even as recently as 2026 for the Nashville Kats, where he won his second and final title as a player(won’t be his last overall, though). No matter how you slice it, Zeigler is a Hall of Fame-level football player… but now? Well, he trades in the helmet for a headset… and turns his sights on where it all began… Central Alabama.
Come Back, Give Back and Bring Back a Championship
When we got the chance to talk to him, the entire focus was on how this opportunity won’t be wasted, and how he sees this as a chance to make sure he gets a chance to give back. While Montgomery will have high-end… well, pretty much everything. They will also have a focus on local talent.
That talent, similar to how Zeigler got his start, is not lost on the new coach; he plans on helping find local guys and making sure they get a shot. Not only a shot, but he will have a real focus on getting guys to higher levels. He is a fantastic hire for the Catfish, and we are certain the playing experience that took him from the PIFL all the way to the AF1 will serve him well in 2027
If you want to hear more on the recent arena ball hires, expansion, and even high-level signings, tune into Around the Indoor Football this Saturday at 7 AM Central! The fellas- Sam, TJ, Krish, and Cody will have all of the up-to-date news and happenings in the sport, along with high-level guests!
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Also Check out the Shady Sports Network Indoor and Arena Football Magazine:
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