Moore hired to steer ECU's women's hoops program

By ECU Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 28, 2010 1:46 PM

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ECU Sports Information

GREENVILLE -- Wes Moore has been named the new women's basketball coach at East Carolina University.

Moore takes over for Sharon Baldwin-Tener, who resigned two weeks ago after accepting the head coaching job at Georgia State University.

"From the moment I realized I wasn't going to be the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, I knew I wanted to coach," said Moore, who spent 12 seasons at Chattanooga. "I've had an opportunity to pursue that dream of coaching. Standing up here today and joining the Pirate Nation adds another unbelievable chapter to that story-book journey."

Moore becomes the 10th head coach in ECU history.

Pirates athletics director Terry Holland described Moore's coaching resume as "phenomenal."

Moore, whose wife Linda hails from Jamesville, led the Moccasins to an unprecedented 11 consecutive Southern Conference regular-season championships and eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He compiled a 290-85 record at Chattanooga -- the best of any current SoCon head coach.

Overall, Moore's record is 490-141.

"I want to thank the most important ingredient in any formula for success, the players I've had the honor of coaching," said Moore. "In my 23 years as a college coach, I've never hit a shot or grabbed a rebound. I have, however, had the privilege of working with some unbelievable young ladies who have represented our program extremely well.

"That is what has made the past couple of days really difficult. If I would have shed a few more tears in the last 24 hours or so, we probably would have needed a boat in here today. Again, it's all about the players."

Baldwin-Tener compiled a program-best 121 victories during her eight-year stint with ECU. The Pirates won their lone Conference USA championship in 2007 and grabbed the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

ECU secured an at-large bid in the 2010 WNIT and collected the program's first-ever postseason victory in overtime against Drexel.

Since 1932, the Pirates have won just two conference championships and made four playoff appearances, including one each with Catherine Bolton and Cathy Andruzzi.

"Thanks to the outstanding job Sharon and her staff did here, I feel like I'm inheriting a very similar situation," said Moore, who won just 10 games in his first season at Chattanooga. "I understand there will be a transition period with a new staff coming on board. Hopefully, that'll pass quickly, and we can get to work and move forward.

"Everyone I've talked to has assured me this is a great group of young ladies to work with. On the court, the ladies have already proven they are a very talented team with the success they have had of late. Hopefully, that great foundation has been laid.

"That taste of winning they have enjoyed will make them hungry to win championships, and continue to try and go to the next level."