Moore boasts an extensive coaching background, both as a head coach and assistant coach, and arrives in Meadville after spending the past six seasons as the head coach at fellow North Coast Athletic Conference member Hiram College.
“I’m excited to welcome Randy to the staff,” Hammer said. “He has tremendous coaching experience, extensive recruiting ties throughout Ohio and Florida, and did a great job of turning Hiram into a very competitive NCAC program.”
Moore spent the 2010-15 seasons on the Hiram sidelines, and orchestrated a major turnaround for the Terriers, taking over a program that won a combined two games in the two seasons prior to his arrival. The turnaround was culminated by the 2014 and ’15 teams posting the most wins in successive years since 1987-88. In his six years at Hiram, 24 Terriers earned All-NCAC accolades, highlighted by 2015 First Team selection Kyle Burchett, who led the conference with 121 tackles, including 12 for loss and four sacks. Throughout his tenure at Hiram, Moore’s recruiting prowess helped bolster the Terrier roster, as his freshman classes routinely numbered over 50, including one with a school-record 78.
Before his time at Hiram, Moore spent seven seasons (2003-09) as the defensive coordinator at Otterbein University. In 2008, he helped the Cardinals set a school record with nine wins and earn the first and only NCAA playoff appearance in program history. The next season, Otterbein finished 8-2, and the 17 wins in consecutive season remain a school record. In addition to his role with the football program, Moore also served as the intramural director at Otterbein, while also assisting with strength and conditioning.
From 2001-03, Moore served as defensive coordinator at Hope College (Mich.). Over the three seasons, the Dutchmen went a combined 20-9, winning the 2003 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship and advancing to the NCAA playoffs.
Moore served as head coach at Lake Forest College (Ill.) from 1995-2000, coaching the Foresters to their first season of .500 or better in 12 years, while recruiting and fielding the largest football team in program history.
Prior to Lake Forest, Moore spent the 1992-94 seasons as defensive coordinator at Wartburg College (Iowa), with the team going 24-9 and making a pair of NCAA playoff appearances. He worked as both defensive coordinator and head track and field coach at Michigan Tech from 1989-91, and helped oversee the football team record their first consecutive winning seasons in 15 years.
After beginning his coaching career as the head football and baseball coach at Iowa City High School in 1983, Moore’s first position at the collegiate ranks was at New Mexico State University, where he worked for three years, first as a graduate assistant before being promoted to full time tight ends coach.
A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Moore holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the University of Iowa, and earned a Masters in Educational Administration from New Mexico State. He and wife Terri are the parents of two children, son Matt and daughter Megan.
“I’ve been a head coach at a couple of places where we’ve rebuilt programs,” Moore said. “I’m here now to help support Coach Hammer, and do whatever it takes to help him get this program turned around while providing a great experience for our student-athletes.”
