Steve Moore
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Director of Athletics Brian Teter announced the promotion of men’s tennis coach Steve Moore to Director of Tennis and will now oversee both the men’s and women’s programs.
Moore finished up the 2007 season as the men’s head coach, where he led the Islanders to a 15-6 and a Southland Conference championship as well as being named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year.
“I look at this as a great challenge and I plan to work hard everyday at it,” Moore said. “I believe if we build the right culture and find the right players, we can have great teams on both the men’s and women’s side. I hope the community will embrace the women’s team like they have the men’s team.”
He will also take over the women’s program for Ken DeKoning, who retired recently. “Kenny is one of the finest, high character persons that has ever lived in this community, so in many ways, there is a very high standard to follow,” Moore said.
Moore started the men’s program in 1998 where he coached for three years, where he led the Islanders to a 45-17 and was one of the youngest NCAA Division I head coaches in the country at the time at the age of 26.
The Corpus Christi native left his hometown to serve as a volunteer assistant at SMU in 2001 for the men's team during its NCAA Tournament run. He was then named the head women's coach at SMU later that summer. He served as head coach for two seasons, leading the Mustangs to a 35-23 record. During his first season as head coach, the team tallied its most wins in 14 years.
In his initial year at SMU, he also raised money for a paid assistant position, which was the first in the program’s history.
In 2003, the team posted an undefeated Western Athletic Conference record, tallying 19 overall wins. During his time in Dallas, SMU had a combined record of 13-3 in the WAC.
After his time at SMU, Moore served as an assistant at Texas A&M for two seasons, helping lead the Aggies to a combined record of 33-20 including two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In his first year with the team, the Aggies advanced to the Sweet 16.
In his 12 years of coaching, Moore has been a part of eight teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including one with the Islanders this past season.
"I am pleased and excited that Steve has decided to take on this opportunity, and a terrific one it is both for our program and for Steve," said Teter. "I really believe that because of his experience in women's tennis, coupled with his contacts and his energy, I feel that our women's program can get to a very high level in the Southland and in the region just like our men's program."
