CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- UTC Director of Athletics, Rick Hart, announced that Wes Moore would remain the head coach of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball program.
"We are elated that are going to continue the Wes Moore Era of Lady Mocs basketball and continue to build upon 12 years of tradition, success and comprehensive excellence that has been a standard for our program," Hart said in front of a small, hastily gathered group of media, staff and fans Thursday night at the McKenzie Arena.
Moore, who accepted the same position with East Carolina University on Tuesday had a change of heart and opted to continue to lead the Lady Mocs as they seek to defend 11 consecutive Southern Conference regular season titles next year.
"A big chunk of my heart was still in Chattanooga," Moore said. "It is hard when you have something like we have had over the past 12 years. Even though, this program was here long before I was and have won championships long before I arrived. In some way, I feel like it is still our baby and it is hard to leave that.
"Terry Holland (Athletics Director) at East Carolina University has been unbelievable throughout this whole process. It is a great opportunity over there at a very fine university, but because of that I think that is deserves somebody, who has their full heart in the job."
Moore, the longest tenured women's basketball coach in UTC history at 12 years, has a school record of 290-85 and went 194-30 against the Southern Conference over that time. The Lady Mocs won an unprecedented 11 consecutive league titles with 11 straight 20-win seasons and made eight NCAA Tournament appearances. He was named the league's Coach of the Year five times while at UTC and had eight SoCon Players of the Year.
Highlights during the Moore Era included a win over seventh-seeded Rutgers in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. That victory capped off a school-record 27-game win streak, the longest in the nation at that time. In November of 2004, 10,051 fans filled the Roundhouse to near-capacity to watch as the Lady Mocs hosted the defending National Champion Lady Vols. Throughout Moore's tenure at UTC, the Lady Mocs moved from Maclellan Gym to the McKenzie Arena and boast the largest crowds in the Southern Conference, averaging nearly 2,000 per game.
While athletics draws the largest focus of responsibilities for the coach, academics and community service played a much larger role in the lives of his student-athletes. Moore's players are fixtures at the Bethel Bible Village, put up the first walls at a Habitat for Humanity "Woman Build" project and volunteer in various capacities at area schools.
Five-Time Southern Conference Coach of the Year
11 Consecutive Southern Conference Regular Season titles
11 Consecutive Postseason Appearances
11 Consecutive 20-win Seasons
Eight NCAA Tournament Appearances
Eight Southern Conference Players of the Year
Seven Southern Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Players
28 All-Conference Players
32 All-Tournament Performers
Top three longest win streaks in school history - all were nation's longest at the time
27 games (11/29/03 - 3/20/04)
26 games (11/25/05 - 3/4/06)
24 games (12/15/07 - 3/10/08)
11 players with more than 1,000 career points.
