Derek Nesbitt

Derek Nesbitt (born April 16, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and a former head coach of the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.

Playing career Nesbitt, who was not selected in the NHL Draft, played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the 2012-13 season after being acquired from the Peoria Rivermen in a trade on April 10, 2013.

On July 12, 2013, Nesbitt agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Oklahoma City Barons as a free agent. Nesbitt started the 2013-14 season with the Barons, scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 38 games before he was traded to the San Antonio Rampage on January 17, 2014. His second stint with the Rampage lasted just 5 games before he was again traded for future considerations to the Chicago Wolves on February 8, 2014.

As a free agent, Nesbitt chose to continue his career in Europe by signing a one-year deal with HC Bolzano, the reigning champions of the EBEL, on August 20, 2014. After spending a season in Austria, he came back to North America, rejoining the Gwinnett Gladiators, who would later be renamed the Atlanta Gladiators, for a fourth stint on a one-year contract signed August 1, 2015.

After six seasons as a key player and team captain with the Atlanta Gladiators, Nesbitt announced his retirement from professional hockey on 2022-07-11, concluding a 16-year playing career.

On November 8, 2022, Nesbitt was appointed as the Assistant Coach of the Gladiators.

On June 6, 2023, the Atlanta Gladiators named Nesbitt as the sixth head coach in the franchise's history.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2001–02 Ferris State University CCHA 36 9 11 20 16 — — — — — 2002–03 Ferris State University CCHA 42 20 33 53 26 — — — — — 2003–04 Ferris State University CCHA 38 11 17 28 36 — — — — — 2004–05 Ferris State University CCHA 38 19 21 40 44 — — — — — 2004–05 Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs CHL — — — — — 7 0 5 5 0 2005–06 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 71 26 43 69 6 17 6 7 13 8 2006–07 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 66 30 51 81 32 22 6 12 18 8 2007–08 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 26 11 28 39 4 — — — — — 2007–08 Rockford IceHogs AHL 46 17 18 35 6 12 3 3 6 12 2008–09 San Antonio Rampage AHL 49 6 9 15 6 — — — — — 2008–09 Manitoba Moose AHL 5 0 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2009–10 Rockford IceHogs AHL 23 4 1 5 6 — — — — — 2009–10 Toledo Walleye ECHL 37 11 22 33 15 4 3 1 4 0 2010–11 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 11 8 10 18 6 — — — — — 2010–11 Peoria Rivermen AHL 55 17 25 42 12 4 0 2 2 0 2011–12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 75 22 33 55 14 — — — — — 2012–13 Peoria Rivermen AHL 66 26 21 47 18 — — — — — 2012–13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 1 0 0 0 0 14 0 6 6 4 2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 38 10 9 19 16 — — — — — 2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL 5 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Chicago Wolves AHL 9 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2014–15 HC Bolzano EBEL 53 14 28 42 14 7 3 4 7 0 2015–16 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 72 28 34 62 20 — — — — — 2016–17 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 72 27 25 52 20 — — — — — 2017–18 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 71 15 22 37 18 4 2 0 2 0 2018–19 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 64 18 32 50 12 — — — — — 2019–20 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 60 15 31 46 10 — — — — — 2021–22 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 65 18 33 51 12 4 1 1 2 0 AHL totals 372 104 121 225 78 31 3 11 14 16