CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's tennis secured a 6-1 victory over Southeastern Louisiana this past Saturday. With that win, Director of Tennis Steve Moore reached an elite milestone, securing 400 career wins as an NCAA Division-1 head coach.
Coach Moore's time on the Island has been stellar. Throughout his tenure, Moore has reached nine NCAA Tournaments, earned 21 Southland Conference titles in the last 11 years, and is one of only four sports in Southland Conference history to win 10 titles in 11 years.
When asked about the milestone and success of Islanders Tennis, Moore said, "It's not about me or any one person, but rather a commitment from a team to a set of core values – family, character, blue-collar work ethic, team above self, grit. Those are the values that so many high-character players have committed to, and those values are rock, not sand. Those are the values my Grandfather Paul Laudadio and family taught me, and those values are the foundation our team is built on."
"We've been blessed with an elite group of assistant coaches who have contributed greatly," Moore continued. "Blake Mosely, Johnny Tallent, Tyler Jimenez, Damien Furmanski, Jason Holland, Jose Zunino, Laurent Montoisy, Israel Monteiro, Goncalo Figueiredo, Celia Rodriguez, Gergo Weindinger, Aurelian Tave, Sho Arai and Olga Bazhanova. They worked with a tireless work ethic, and poured heart and soul to build strong-character teams and create a family environment. I was fortunate to learn from great mentors in Tim Cass, Tim Siegel and Carl Neufeld, and I owe them a lot. We are grateful beyond words for the support we've received from the University, athletic department, and the special donors who make this all possible. Go Islanders!"
Following are quotes from a group of peers that Coach Moore has the upmost respect for:
Tim Siegel - Former Texas Tech Big 12 Coach of the Year:
"I am so proud of Steve," said Mr. Siegel. "He was an excellent assistant coach for me at Texas Tech. He has won at SMU and has been a consistent winner. What he has done in that community is just amazing. A model to copy. Every Steve Moore team plays hard, has great team chemistry, and represents their university off the court with class. There isn't a better coach in America."
Bobby Bayliss - Former Notre Dame Head Coach and Chair of the NCAA Tennis Committee:
"Steve's commitment and infectious enthusiasm for college tennis are without peer in our sport," said Mr. Bayliss. "Add to that his knowledge and integrity, and you have the total package. Congratulations, Steve. You're the best! I could also add that his ability to carry 3 cups of coffee to meetings is legendary. Hahaha."
Tim Cass - Director of USTA Natl. Training Center and Former Deputy AD at New Mexico:
"Steve is one of the most respected coaches in the nation," said Mr. Cass, "and his Islanders are nationally known for their culture and character. He started that program from scratch 20 years ago – so 400 wins is amazing. Steve's blue-collar, family philosophy is special. You just want to root for the teams with those values."
Willis Wilson - Head Coach for Men's Basketball at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi:
"Congratulations to the best, most passionate tennis coach in America," said Coach Wilson. "Congratulations Steve Moore on your 400th coaching victory."
Matt Knoll – National Champion and Head Coach for Baylor University:
"I congratulate Coach Moore on his 400th win," said Coach Knoll. "He's done far more than win tennis matches during his tenure. He has enriched lives, built men, and made college tennis matter in Corpus Christi. A spectacular achievement with many great things yet to come."
Celia Rodriguez - Former Islander Captain, 3 NCAA's, All-Time Leader in Wins:
"My experience playing and working for Coach Steve has been one of the best of my life," said Ms. Rodriguez. "It wasn't only about tennis. Coach Steve's philosophy taught us how to share, respect and fight, which prepared me so much for the real world. It always amazed me how hard he worked for our team. But, once I became assistant coach, I couldn't believe all the work he did for us. I will always respect him for that. Coach Moore showed us by his example that hard work really pays off."
Andrew Maingot - Former Islander Captain, Led Islanders to 4 NCAA's and 4 SLC Titles:
"I am very proud and blessed to have had the opportunity to play for Steve. More than being a great tennis coach, he is a great leader off the court. He has been one of the most influential people in my life, and I attribute many of the successes I've had after college to the work ethic and core values that he instills in his players. I have the highest level of respect for Steve."
This season, Steve Moore has led both the Islanders men and women in a chase for another Southland Conference title. The women, currently 6-1 in SLC play, have already clinched their bid for the Southland Conference tournament. The men remain undefeated, currently sitting at 2-0 in Southland action. Be sure to support each team throughout the rest of the season, and watch as the Islanders and Coach Moore look to continue their Southland reign with another trip to the NCAA Tournament!
Today, Coach Moore will be a special guest speaker at this month's IAF Monthly Luncheon. Come out, grab some lunch, and watch as Coach Moore discusses this milestone and the 2018 season moving forward! For tickets, visit - https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/BuyClear.asp?EventID=229686&continue=buynew.asp#.WsKjmIjwaUl.
