UTC’s Moore keeps focus

Beginning Friday afternoon, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Lady Mocs will focus on basketball only. From now on one loss could be their last loss, even if they haven’t lost once in 2008.

So they’ll pack away the furry tail they taped to coach Wes Moore’s back for a few minutes a couple of weeks ago. They probably won’t make their usual visit to a historic landmark, normally a Moore requirement during the regular season.

The Lady Mocs might even avoid allowing their coach to scour the Charleston area without directions, since, as senior Laura Hall joked, “Coach Moore is not a good driver at all. We left a bumper at a gas station one time.”

Besides, basketball is what most folks think the Lady Mocs do best. Especially this time of year, since they’ve won six of the last seven Southern Conference tournaments.

And just for the record, each of their previous two perfect runs through the SoCon regular season in 2004 and 2006 produced league tourney crowns as well.

Still, even in March, there’s more to a basketball team than basketball.

“I’ve made some of the best friends I’ll have for the rest of my life,” senior guard Brooke Hand said. “And coach makes it fun. When we went to San Antonio we visited the Alamo. When we went to San Francisco we went to Alcatraz.”

Hand is quick to point out that the players aren’t against having fun with their coach.

“On one of our last bus trips,” Hand said, “we pushed a big cooler up against the bathroom door when Coach went in to use the restroom. That was pretty funny.”

Senior forward Alex Anderson has been the best player in the SoCon for the last couple of seasons. But when she talks about the program, basketball isn’t often at the top of her list.

“It’s not just your basketball skills when he’s recruiting you,” she said. ”Everybody in this program is a great person.”

Moore will quickly tell you this is by design.

“We recruit good people,” he said earlier this week. “Part of that is selfish on my part. I get to enjoy my job more if I’m not always dealing with issues. I’ve always said that the best way to have good chemistry is to put good ingredients into it.”

Partly because of that, the Lady Mocs are routinely near the top of the SoCon in GPA and last among UTC athletic teams in off-the-field distractions.

“If you don’t leave here with a degree we’ve used you,” said Moore. “The university is making an $80,000 to $100,00 commitment in you. That’s priceless. That sets you up for life.”

Ah, life. Moore expects his players to have rich and full ones away from basketball. Asked why many of his players opt for coaching high school ball rather than following in his college footsteps, Moore said, “I think it’s because they want to get married, have children, enjoy their families.”

Just as important, Moore lets his players know that their relationship doesn’t end when their eligibility runs out.

“Just the other day,” said Hall, “he told the seniors, ‘If you ever need anything, if you’re ever in trouble, I’ll always be there for you.’ He really cares for us.”

Added Moore, “I usually have a better relationship with my players once their careers are over. You need a little distance when they’re playing for you. You want them to understand that with hard work you also need to have a passion for something. Find out what that passion is and throw yourself completely into it.”

By his words, actions and deeds, you would have expected Moore to have been gone from here years ago, plucked up by some high major program looking to win a high percentage of their games with quality kids.

But for some reason the big boys have no interest in a coach who’s won over 80 percent of his games the past nine years, reached six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, graduates his players and keeps it all fun.

But that’s OK with Anderson, arguably the best player Moore has coached.

“I just wish I could go back and do it all over again,” she said. “If the WNBA or playing overseas doesn’t work out, I hope he’ll give me a chance to come back here and coach.”

Just call it another ingredient in Moore’s sweet recipe for success.