CSU Names Robert Moore Head Men's Basketball Coach
Columbus, Ga. - April 9, 2010 -- Columbus State University Athletic Director Jay Sparks introduced Robert Moore as the school’s sixth men’s basketball coach on Friday afternoon. The announcement came at a press conference at the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center on the CSU campus.
Moore replaces Doug Branson, who stepped down after four seasons in charge of the program. Branson posted a 50-62 mark in those four seasons.
“With all the criteria, the responsibilities and the challenges that come with this job, no one fits the job description better than Robert Moore,” said Sparks. “Robert has all the recources to be successful here at Columbus State and we believe he will be outstanding for a long time to come.”
Moore comes to Columbus State with 18 years of coaching experience - 10 of those in a head coaching role. He most recently has been head boy’s basketball coach at Brookstone School in Columbus for the last five years. Prior to his stint at Brookstone, Moore was head coach at Tift County High School in Tifton, Georgia. While at Tift County, Moore was named Georgia Sportswriters Association 5A Boy’s Coach of the Year after he led his team to the state championship game that season. He accumulated a record of 47-12 and won back-to-back region titles at the school.
Prior to Tift County, Moore served two seasons as head coach at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and set a school record for wins in a season with 21 in 2002. That record was the best men’s basketball record at the school since 1982. Moore served as an assistant coach to Herbert Greene at Columbus State from 1994-2000 and was a part of two NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen appearances, one Peach Belt Conference championship, and three PBC Tournament championships. During that span, CSU also appeared in the PBC Tournament title game five times and made three overall NCAA postseason appearances.
“For me, this is a dream come true,” said Moore. “I have made several stops in my coaching career, but this is the one place I can call home. I am glad to be back.”
“I am committed to getting our students and the community involved in our program. To do that, you first have to win, but then you also have to be visible on campus and in the community. I am excited to get started and go out and get the best players we can for our program,” he added.
Moore will get right to work at CSU, meeting with the existing coaching staff and returning players. The NCAA signing period for basketball begins on Wednesday, April 14, so Moore will get up to speed on the recruiting efforts of assistant coach James Hyneman and graduate assistant Jon Griffin and will hit the recruiting trail to fill needs for the 2010-11 season.