A native of Durham, North Carolina, Sterling was a four-year midfielder for the Lenoir-Rhyne University. Sterling helped grow the program from the beginning stages to a conference championship squad.

After playing at Lenoir Rhyne, Sterling joined the coaching staff for the 2017 season. He helped coach the Bears to a second straight undefeated conference championship season and a No. 7 national ranking. Helping the team to its first NCAA appearance in school history, along with coaching seven all- conference players, conference player of the year, conference freshman of the year and two USILA All-Americans.

During Sterling's playing career, the Bears won two South Atlantic Conference regular season championships (2014 and 2016), the 2016 SAC tournament, and advanced to the league tournament finals three straight years (2014-16).

Sterling was a team captain in 2016 as a senior and earned First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors while totaling 32 goals, 11 assists and 43 total points. In addition, Sterling was named the SAC Championship Most Valuable Player. For his Lenoir-Rhyne career, he totaled 63 goals, 26 assists and 89 total points.

Sterling, a graduate of Riverside High School, was voted to the all-conference team four times and earned all-state accolades twice. He set the school's all-time leading point record.