Moats couldn't ask for better timing at CBA

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on November 17, 2010 1:47 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Steve Moats understands the adage "timing is everything" as well as anyone.

Perfect timing helped Moats, the former basketball clock keeper at Eastern Wayne, land a position on the coaching staff at Charles B. Aycock.

And that timing also led to Moats filling the vacant varsity boys' basketball position, which became open when David West accepted an assistant principal job at North Johnston in late August.

Sensing the opportunity was right and after earning the approval from Aycock Principal Dr. Earl Moore, Moats welcomed the challenge of becoming the Golden Falcons' head coach.

"I came here primarily to teach history," said Moats. "An opportunity popped up and Dr. Moore agreed to transfer me over. After I got here, I found out Coach West got the job at North Johnston. It was a great time and a great situation. I'm very luck to be stepping into this position."

A Richmond, Va., native, Moats played basketball at Monacan High School and attended North Carolina State. He served as the Vikings' junior varsity boys' basketball team from 1999-2003.

When Moats arrived at Eastern Wayne, he guided the freshman boys' basketball squad for one season. He spent time on Jeff Price's football staff and stayed one season with current head coach Guy Williams before heading to Aycock.

West guided the Golden Falcons to a program-record 24 victories a year ago, after going winless just four seasons earlier. Aycock had a 12-game winning streak that spanned more than a month and also won the North Johnston Christmas tournament.

The Golden Falcons shared the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference regular-season championship with Southern Wayne and won the ECC tournament. They reached the sectional finals where they fell to eventual state champion Rocky Mount.

Building upon the success the program experienced with West is one of Moat's top priorities.

"Coach West had a tremendous year last year," said Moats. "There's a lot of inside talent coming back. It's a really exciting time. The thing I want this team to do is to play to the best of its abilities. You set a level of expectations, and you get the kids working in the weight room and on their individual skills."

Moats kept West's coaching staff intact and plans to use aspects of West's coaching style while implementing a more transition-oriented system.

"We're going to do some similar things but the style that I will be coaching will be more of a transition game," said Moats. "We're going to try to be the best defensive team in the conference."

His six seasons as a clock keeper at Eastern Wayne allowed Moats to maintain a familiarity with high school basketball in the area. He hopes that knowledge will pay dividends during his first season as a varsity head coach.

"I think it probably gives me an insight that a lot of coaches would have by seeing all the teams come in and play every year," said Moats. "I know South Johnston has changed hands and I've only seen Triton a little bit."

Aycock opens its season Nov. 23 at Greene Central.