Howard Moore Named UIC Head Basketball Coach

University of Illinois at Chicago Director of Athletics Jim Schmidt announced today that Howard Moore, a University of Wisconsin assistant coach who helped the Badgers to five straight NCAA tournament berths, has been hired as the 10th head men's basketball coach in UIC history.

Moore will be introduced as UIC's head coach at a press conference this Monday, August 23 at 11 a.m. inside the UIC Pavilion, located at 525 S. Racine Street in Chicago.

Moore, 37, is a Chicago native and a Taft High School graduate who grew up mere blocks from the UIC campus. He takes over the Flames basketball program after serving the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Wisconsin, his alma mater, under Bo Ryan.

"We are extremely pleased that Howard Moore will lead the UIC men's basketball program," said Schmidt. "His integrity, work ethic, track record of success on the court and on the recruiting trail, and wealth of connections across the basketball landscape are the facets that stood out when we spoke to him. Howard is a loyal Chicagoan who loves his hometown and is committed to leading UIC to excellence on and off the court.

"Howard's extraordinary caliber of character and vision for success at UIC gives Flames fans reasons to be excited about the future," Schmidt said. "On behalf of the entire UIC community, I want to welcome Howard, his wife, Jennifer, and his children, Jerell and Jaidyn, to the UIC family."

"We are delighted that Coach Moore will be heading the Flames' men's basketball program," said UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares. "He has a track record of leadership and success in coaching student-athletes and it is my pleasure to welcome him back to Chicago and into the UIC community."

"I want to thank Jim Schmidt, Dr. Paula Allen-Meares, and [UIC Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs] Dr. Barbara Henley for this wonderful opportunity," said Moore. "I also want to thank Bo Ryan for giving me the opportunity to return to my alma mater and grow and develop as a coach.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to coach at UIC, be back in my hometown, and continue the legacy and tradition of UIC basketball," Moore said. "I am deeply honored and humbled by the opportunity, and I vow to use every ounce of energy I have to get UIC back to the top of the Horizon League and competing for championships."

Moore joined the Wisconsin staff in 2005 and helped the Badgers to NCAA tournament appearances in each of his five years. The Badgers advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons, including a Sweet 16 run in 2008.

Wisconsin posted three of the top five winningest seasons in school history with Moore on the staff, including a historic 2007-08 campaign that saw the Badgers win a school-record 31 games and capture the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships.

While at Wisconsin, Moore established himself as one of the top recruiters in the Big Ten and utilized the Chicagoland area as his main pipeline for talent.

Prior to returning to his alma mater as a coach, Moore spent the 2004-05 season as an assistant during Jim Whitesell's first season at crosstown rival Loyola. There he helped the Ramblers win six of their last seven games and advance to the Horizon League Championship semifinals.

He served as an assistant coach at Ball State in 2003-04 after four seasons on the coaching staff at Bradley. At both stops he turned in outstanding recruiting hauls, including a 2001 Bradley class that featured Danny Granger, a 2009 NBA All-Star with the Indiana Pacers. Moore began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at the University of Chicago in 1999 after two seasons as an assistant coach at Taft High School.

Moore played at Wisconsin from 1990-95 under coaches Steve Yoder, Stu Jackson and Stan Van Gundy. He teamed with Michael Finley, Rashard Griffith, Tracy Webster, Andy Kilbride, and Brian Kelley to help the Badgers return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 47 years during his junior season in 1994.

A recipient of the University of Wisconsin African-American Alumni Association Student Leadership Award in 1993, Moore graduated from Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in African-American Studies in 1995.

A native of Chicago's West Side, Moore played at Taft High School and helped the Eagles to the Chicago Public League semifinals as a senior in 1990. He was selected to the Chicago Public League Hall of Fame in 1999.

Courtesy of UIC sports information