MCC News
Wed, Apr 29, 2009 - [Men's Basketball]
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - For the first time in 20 years, there will be a new head coach roaming the sidelines for the Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team when the 2009-2010 season rolls around as the university on Wednesday announced the hiring of Matt Moore to become the program's ninth head coach.
"We are excited for Matt as he takes this step in his professional career," said Grace College athletics director Chad Briscoe. "Matt has meant so much to the institution here at Grace and our basketball program. His commitment and dedication was evident from day one and we all look forward to seeing how he and Anna will impact the Mount Vernon community."
Moore comes to MVNU after spending four years as the top assistant coach at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind. During his time with the Lancers, the program posted a 95-44 record and made back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight in the NAIA National Tournament in
2008 and 2009. The team posted three consecutive 20-win seasons during that span and also finished as the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament runner-up twice in 2003 and 2007.
"Matt has been my right-hand man the past few years and he will be greatly missed," said Lancer Head Coach Jim Kessler. "He is a great young coach with a passion for the game and leading young men. Matt will be missed on our sidelines but I know that being a head coach is something he has always dreamed about. I wish him only the very best."
In addition to coaching at Grace, Moore was an assistant varsity coach at Logansport High School from 2003-2006 where he worked under Indiana High School Hall of Fame Coach Al Rhodes, and he served as an assistant coach for the McDonald's All-American Team in 2005 when the game was played in South Bend, Ind. He has also taken his knowledge of the game of basketball overseas and has worked with players and coaches in France, Germany, and Kenya as part of missions trips that he has taken.
Moore graduated from Grace in 2002 with a degree in Secondary Education. As a four-year starter for the Lancers, he dished out 660 career assists, which still ranks fourth in program history. He also compiled the fifth-highest single-season assist total with 242 for an average of 7.2 per game. He went on get a master's degree in Physical Education at Ball State University. He and his wife, Anna, were married in 2007.
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join an institution like Mount Vernon Nazarene University," said Moore. "To be named the head men's basketball coach is an honor, and to now be included in such a long tradition of basketball experience is humbling.
As a coach, it has been great to see how Coach Flemming has impacted not only the players who have worn the Cougar uniform, but the university and the community as well. My wife, Anna, and I feel that the Lord has called us to MVNU as we continue our mission to further His Kingdom through the game of basketball."
"Coach Moore comes from a very successful program and has worked under a coach (Jim Kessler) who I have a great amount of respect for," said MVNU athletic director Scott Flemming, who stepped down from the coaching position after posting a 397-226 record with the Cougars over the past 19 seasons. "Matt has a passion for coaching and he brings the kind of values we are looking for at a Christian university. I believe he is ready for this challenge and will represent us well."
Moore will take over a program that has posted a 297-125 record (.704 winning percentage) over the past 13 seasons while topping the 20-win mark in 12 of them. The Cougars have also earned eight berths in the NAIA Division II National Tournament during that span including four in a row for the first time ever from 2006-2009 with this year's team posting a 23-9 overall mark. MVNU captured the NCCAA national title in 2002 and finished as the NCCAA runner-up in 2004. The Cougars also won three American Mideast Conference Tournament titles and the program's only two regular-season conference titles during that span as well as consistently receiving votes in the NAIA Division II poll.
"We are excited for Matt as he takes this step in his professional career," said Grace College athletics director Chad Briscoe. "Matt has meant so much to the institution here at Grace and our basketball program. His commitment and dedication was evident from day one and we all look forward to seeing how he and Anna will impact the Mount Vernon community."
Moore comes to MVNU after spending four years as the top assistant coach at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind. During his time with the Lancers, the program posted a 95-44 record and made back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight in the NAIA National Tournament in
2008 and 2009. The team posted three consecutive 20-win seasons during that span and also finished as the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament runner-up twice in 2003 and 2007.
"Matt has been my right-hand man the past few years and he will be greatly missed," said Lancer Head Coach Jim Kessler. "He is a great young coach with a passion for the game and leading young men. Matt will be missed on our sidelines but I know that being a head coach is something he has always dreamed about. I wish him only the very best."
In addition to coaching at Grace, Moore was an assistant varsity coach at Logansport High School from 2003-2006 where he worked under Indiana High School Hall of Fame Coach Al Rhodes, and he served as an assistant coach for the McDonald's All-American Team in 2005 when the game was played in South Bend, Ind. He has also taken his knowledge of the game of basketball overseas and has worked with players and coaches in France, Germany, and Kenya as part of missions trips that he has taken.
Moore graduated from Grace in 2002 with a degree in Secondary Education. As a four-year starter for the Lancers, he dished out 660 career assists, which still ranks fourth in program history. He also compiled the fifth-highest single-season assist total with 242 for an average of 7.2 per game. He went on get a master's degree in Physical Education at Ball State University. He and his wife, Anna, were married in 2007.
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join an institution like Mount Vernon Nazarene University," said Moore. "To be named the head men's basketball coach is an honor, and to now be included in such a long tradition of basketball experience is humbling.
As a coach, it has been great to see how Coach Flemming has impacted not only the players who have worn the Cougar uniform, but the university and the community as well. My wife, Anna, and I feel that the Lord has called us to MVNU as we continue our mission to further His Kingdom through the game of basketball."
"Coach Moore comes from a very successful program and has worked under a coach (Jim Kessler) who I have a great amount of respect for," said MVNU athletic director Scott Flemming, who stepped down from the coaching position after posting a 397-226 record with the Cougars over the past 19 seasons. "Matt has a passion for coaching and he brings the kind of values we are looking for at a Christian university. I believe he is ready for this challenge and will represent us well."
Moore will take over a program that has posted a 297-125 record (.704 winning percentage) over the past 13 seasons while topping the 20-win mark in 12 of them. The Cougars have also earned eight berths in the NAIA Division II National Tournament during that span including four in a row for the first time ever from 2006-2009 with this year's team posting a 23-9 overall mark. MVNU captured the NCCAA national title in 2002 and finished as the NCCAA runner-up in 2004. The Cougars also won three American Mideast Conference Tournament titles and the program's only two regular-season conference titles during that span as well as consistently receiving votes in the NAIA Division II poll.
