 Stapleton served as an assistant to head coach/GM Scott Gardiner with the NAHL's Traverse City North Stars during the club's inaugural 2005–06 season before accepting a position as associate coach of the OHL's Erie Otters.He accepted a position to become the new assistant coach for the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, the 2010-11 American Hockey League season.He served as the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste.