Wildcard? Bulls Seek to Speak to Tom Moore

[Brad]

Schools Show Interest In Moore

March 18, 2007

By MIKE ANTHONY, Courant Staff Writer

Officials from South Florida and St. Bonaventure have asked UConn for permission to speak with associate head coach Tom Moore about their head coaching positions.

South Florida (12-18, 3-13 Big East) fired Robert McCullum March 9. The Bulls are 4-28 in conference play in their first two seasons in the Big East. Moore, who just completed his 13th season in Storrs, would probably jump at an offer, although South Florida is likely to first interview head coaches. The call to UConn likely was part of an effort to line up a pool of assistant coaches as candidates for later in the process.

Moore, 41, could be a leading candidate at St. Bonaventure, which fired Anthony Solomon, who was 24-88 in four seasons. While a move to the Atlantic 10 would appear to be a nice building block for Moore, he might only seriously consider a position at one of the conference's more successful programs.

For instance, if George Washington coach Karl Hobbs leaves, Moore would figure to push hard for such a position. Hobbs, a former UConn assistant, is said to be on the radar of South Florida and Colorado, where Ricardo Patton announced before the season that his 11th season there would be his last. The Buffaloes were 7-20, 3-13 in the Big 12.

Moore, who would not comment Saturday, would likely covet a job at a school near the top of the Atlantic 10 or the Colonial Athletic Association, places such as George Washington, UMass, Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion. Any potential shake-up in the national coaching scene could lead to openings at those schools. Hobbs and Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor might be sought after by Michigan, which fired Tommy Amaker Saturday.

Quinnipiac, which fired Joe DeSantis, also could look to lure Moore. While the Northeast Conference might be a notch below what Moore would consider, Quinnipiac might be intriguing because of the dedication the school has shown to the basketball program, including a new arena. The Bobcats (14-15, 11-7) moved into a new facility this season.

Moore, hired by UConn before the 1994-95 season, was promoted from assistant to associate head coach before the 2005-06 season. He was previously 76-59 in five years as coach at Division III Worcester State.

McClain Visit Expected

Anthony McClain, a 6-foot-11 center from National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Md., is expected to make an unofficial visit to UConn soon, although a date hasn't been set.

UConn, which figures to lose one to three players, also continues to recruit Marcus Thornton, a guard from Kilgore College in Texas. LSU could be the front-runner for Thornton, who is from Baton Rouge. Gary Clark, a guard from Montverde Academy in Florida, is expected to wind up at Vanderbilt or Wake Forest, but the Huskies are looking at point guard Donnell Beverly from Leuzinger High outside Los Angeles. ... UConn's 2007-08 schedule will be highlighted early by playing in the 16-team Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Also, UConn will play in the Hall of Fame Challenge doubleheader. Florida, Arizona and Gonzaga are said to be possible participants. The Challenge is expected to take place in Boston. "We thought this year's team, being so young, needed time to grow and that next year we'd be ready to take on challenges like this," assistant coach George Blaney said.

Contact Mike Anthony at

manthony@courant.com

Link

[Guest BasketBull.]

STORRS, Conn. (October 10, 2005)-- Tom Moore, a member of the University of [highlight]Connecticut men’s basketball coaching staff since 1994, [/highlight]has been promoted to the position of [highlight]Associate Head Coach[/highlight], it was announced by head coach Jim Calhoun Monday.

“Tom is unquestionably one of the top coaches and recruiters in the countryâ€Â, said Calhoun. “We are lucky to have him as a part of our staff and this promotion is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the part that he has played in the phenomenal success of our basketball program.

"It is truly an honor to be named associate head coach at the University of Connecticutâ€Â, said Moore. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my eleven years here working for - and learning under - the best coach in college basketball. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute, in my new role, to Coach Calhoun's continued commitment to maintaining UConn Basketball's place among the elite programs in the country."

[highlight]Moore is entering his 12th season on the University of Connecticut basketball staff in the 2005-06 season and his fifth in a recruiting role, including his third straight year as the recruiting coordinator. [/highlight]

In his four years on the recruiting trail for the Huskies, Moore has earned a national reputation as a [highlight]superb recruiter and evaluator of talent. [/highlight]He is annually recognized by leading basketball experts as one of the nation’s top assistant coaches and is regularly mentioned as a leading candidate for vacant head coaching positions.

Moore joined the UConn coaching staff prior to the 1994-95 season and in his 11 seasons associated with the Connecticut program, the Huskies have compiled an overall record of 293-81, winning the 2004 and 1999 NCAA Championships, seven BIG EAST regular season titles, five BIG EAST tournament crowns, and earning 11 straight postseason national tournament bids.

A 1987 Boston University graduate, Moore was [highlight]the head basketball coach at Worcester State (MA) College for five seasons before coming to UConn. [/highlight]He began his coaching career as assistant coach at Worcester State during the 1987-88 season. He spent the 1988-89 season as assistant coach at Assumption College before becoming the youngest head coach of a collegiate program in New England when, at age 24, he was named the Worcester State head coach prior to the 1989-90 season.

[highlight]During his five seasons in charge of the Worcester State program, Moore compiled a record of 76-59, the winningest five-year period in the school’s history. [/highlight]

In his second year as head coach, his 1990-91 club posted a 16-11 record, the winningest single-season at Worcester State in the previous 14 years. His 1992-93 club was named the region’s Most Improved Team by the New England Basketball Coaches Association and that squad earned an ECAC tournament berth. The 1993-94 Worcester State team earned a spot in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. In addition to his role as head coach of basketball, Moore was an Assistant Athletic Director at Worcester State.

Moore, a graduate of St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, MA, has served as secretary-treasurer of the Worcester Coaches Association and has been a frequent lecturer at various summer camps throughout the country.

Born May 12, 1965, Moore and his wife, Eileen, live in Tolland and have three daughters, Elizabeth Rose, Catherine Grace and Caroline Mary.

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...talking is fine. But can't we do better.

[AndytheBull]

Interesting. I believe it was Aumans blog said in '99 at SLU Woolard interviewed 15 candidates on the road and just brought back a few to campus to interview again. He'd be interesting to talk to and see how he does, but as basketbull said  I think we can do better.

[bulls96go]

this is the kind of left field coach  find that will bring more value per buck than more established prospects. IMO.

why so long for him to find a HC job (11 yrs)?