by Andrew Bell
The Wooster Scots men’s basketball team faced off against the DePauw Tigers. However, this day was about “Moore” than the game. The Timken Gymnasium basketball court was officially named in honor of former head coach Steve Moore. Moore was recognized in a post-game ceremony featuring administration, colleagues and former players paying tribute to his legendary career, but even more so to his humble, selfless demeanor. Only his personal impact on the lives of players, basketball staff, community members and family rival his notoriety as the second most victorious coach in the history of NCAA Division III basketball.
Moore began his tenure with the Fighting Scots just prior to the 1987-1988 season and served the College for 33 consecutive years. After two years of rebuilding, his teams produced 31 straight winning seasons. Moore ranks 12th in wins among head coaches across all divisions of NCAA basketball. He led Wooster to a league-high 18 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) titles and appearances in 28 NCAA Division III tournaments. Three of his teams advanced to the Final Four. However, his coaching record is only one aspect of his highly regarded character.
During the postgame court dedication, Head Coach Doug Cline, who was both a player and assistant coach under Moore, stated, “Today, we get to honor a man who has meant so much to this great institution, to our community and to college basketball.” The influence of Moore’s wisdom on and off the court was apparent as several alumni, faculty, staff, former players and coaches and community members filled the stands in celebration of his legacy.
While Coach Moore sat in his usual mid-court seat for most of the game, Wooster and DePauw battled back and forth throughout the entire 40 minutes of play. Both teams were hot, with DePauw shooting 66.7% (32 of 48) and Wooster hitting 58.9% (33 of 56) for the game. Jamir Billings ’25 rose to the occasion with nine assists and five steals. He moved into third place for assists and is tied for second in steals in program history. Ashton Price ’25 placed the Scots on top for good with 11:25 remaining in the second half, but the tension in the gymnasium felt like this lead could be reversed at any time. Nonetheless, Wooster wove together an impressive 12-4 run and grew their lead to seven. DePauw answered right back and cut the lead to two points twice in the closing minutes.
With the game on the line, the standing-room-only Woo Crew continued to yell for their defense and cheered at every Black and Gold score. Price once again opened up the score sheet with a floater that swished through the net. Despite the score, the Tigers did not back down, calling a timeout after making a jump shot that left them trailing by just two points with less than one minute left.
DePauw shot from the line after Wooster committed a foul. The first shot, swish; the second, clank. Price rebounded, but DePauw regained possession on a Wooster one-and-one miss. The Tigers set up after another timeout with 15 seconds left. Steve Moore Court rumbled as the ball was inbounded. DePauw called a simple screen and roll play in an attempt to get the ball down low. However, Jaiden Cox-Holloway ’26 stuffed DePauw’s final shot of the day to secure the Scots’ win. When the final buzzer sounded, Wooster was up 87-86.
Wooster’s spirited play throughout the game was championed by their dedication to teamwork. Yes, standout performances were evident with Price, Cox-Holloway and Nick Everett ’24, each scoring 20, 17 and 16 respectively. However, passes, assists, fewer turnovers, heads-up play and all-around unselfishness — a mantra of Coach Moore — helped the Scots win the game. Wooster now stands in a three-way tie for first place in the NCAC.
Although the fans witnessed an exhilarating game, the true treat was Coach Moore’s speech during the post-game ceremony. The Wooster faithful waited with a patient ear to hear his words. The Black and Gold basketball community was built under his leadership. Former student athletes from decades as far back as the late 1980s filled a whole section of Timken Gymnasium.
“Coach Moore always said he had two wonderful daughters and a bunch of sons,” asserted an emotional Coach Cline. One of those sons, Ryan Burgess ’93, continued Cline’s sentiment. “He taught us to lead by example, quite literally,” he affirmed in his postgame speech. Lynn Holleran, the newly appointed athletics director, proclaimed that even though she had only met Moore recently, she “had heard all about him and his legacy.”
Instead of recognizing his own success, Coach Moore thanked his players and staff. “Every single player was important to our success,” said a humble Moore. “All of our coaches and managers were very important members of our team. You all know how special you are to me, and you are the reason my name is on the court.” He specifically highlighted Bruce Martin, who volunteered as an assistant coach for 26 years. “He was an outstanding teacher on and off the court,” said Moore. He followed up by thanking Cline. Moore stated, “No one is as responsible for the success of the Fighting Scots [men’s basketball team] as Doug Cline. First as a player and then a coach. He is a fierce competitor, unselfish and a leader.”
Moore’s recognition of his players and staff speaks volumes for the kind of legacy that he leaves behind. Although he is one of the most successful coaches of all time in the NCAA, he incessantly thanked everyone around him, including former players, coaches, community members, the Rebounders, the administration and his family. His selflessness is a welcome demeanor in an age of self-aggrandizement.
Cline echoed that one word more than any other sums up Moore: “selfless.” Cline contends, “He always deflected attention away from himself and put it on his players and coaches.” His legacy continues through the Steve Moore Endowment, which supports all Fighting Scot student-athletes and may be used to enhance Steve Moore Court and Timken Gymnasium, ensuring a positive experience for current and future generations of student-athletes and the fans who support them.
Thank you, Coach Moore, for building a famed college basketball program, but more importantly for life lessons filled with humble wisdom!