Takes over Red Raiders after playing, coach at Plymouth-Whitemarsh
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
CALN — A new era of basketball was ushered in for Coatesville Area High School as the school introduced Chuck Moore as its new boys varsity coach, Wednesday.
Moore, who replaces Rick Nelms, was introduced to the media and school community by Coatesville Area School District Superintendent of Schools Richard Como, who noted “that for us in Coatesville, this is a big, big day.”
Como spoke about Moore’s background, first as player for Plymouth-Whitemarsh, where he led his team to a state title and left as the school’s all-time leading scorer (despite playing with future NBA player John Salmons) and then for Seton Hall and Vanderbilt, averaging 12.7 points per game there in the brutal SEC as a senior in 2002. After his playing days, he returned to Plymouth Whitemarsh as an assistant coach and was part of the coaching staff for the school’s third state title in 2010.
“He brings that kind of expectation to our program,” Como said. “He also knows this: we like to win, but we want to win the right way.”
CASH Athletic Director Jim Donato echoed those sentiments, saying that Moore quickly emerged as the best of the nine “strong” finalists identified for the job.
“Coach Moore just stood out as a candidate,” Donato said.
Moore, 34, said he understood very well the expectations for both himself and the program. During his playing days, Plymouth-Whitemarsh and Coatesville played twice yearly — and with both featuring talent that would make marks on major college and even NBA rosters, even then he saw that the two programs had much in common.
“Coatesville expects the best,” Moore said, noting that he knew the level of seriousness when it was Como who called him at 11 p.m. at night to offer him the coaching job — something typically handled at most schools by the athletic director.
“I know Coatesville puts a lot into their sports,” Moore said, speaking from experience, having played against current Chicago Bull Richard “Rip” Hamilton, when he was with the Red Raiders. He said he plans to instill high standards, on and off the court.
Moore said that fans and players can expect a high-tempo, defense-first game, he said. He preaches defense, first, last and always, which he notes is kind of ironic, as he was known for his shooting prowess in his playing days (a couple of late buckets of his led Vanderbilt to upset Kentucky in 2002).
While he said he preaches the ethic of hard work, he still wants his players to have fun, to remember that it remains a game.
“It feels like home,” he said. “I’m anxious to get started.”
Still, as a rookie head coach, Moore will face the challenge of replacing the nine seniors — many of whom were also the core of the state football AAAA runners-up. In replacing Nelms, who stepped down after leading the Red Raiders to a 25-8 record in 2013-13. Moore could see both finding a new rotation and dealing with the expectations for the program something of a challenge.
