North Carolina State University Athletics
Coach Moore Selected as Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist
3/13/2025 11:52:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – The No. 9/9 NC State women's basketball team's head coach Wes Moore has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year.
Coach Moore is one of 10 coaches across the country named as a semifinalist and one of two from the ACC. Moore is a prior four-time finalist for the award (2014, 2019, 2021 and 2022) and this year marks his third time as a semifinalist, also being named one in 2017 and 2020.
In his 12th season at the helm, 36th overall, Coach Moore has led the Wolfpack to a 26-6 overall record, as well as an ACC Regular Season Co-Championship after finishing 16-2 in the league. The 2025 ACC Coach of the Year picked up his fourth Coach of the Year honors by the league, as well as 15th overall. In the ACC Tournament, Moore led the Pack to its fifth championship game appearance in the last six seasons, as well as seventh semifinalist berth in the past eight.
Moore has earned a 20-win season for his 11th time at NC State, as well as his 31st in his 36 year-coaching career. He also has led the Pack to 25 wins for the seventh time in his tenure. The Pack has knocked off six AP ranked opponents this season, including three top 15 foes, highlighted by the Pack's 104-95 double overtime win over then-No. 1 Notre Dame. The 100+ points was the first this century team has put up 100+ points against an AP No. 1 team in women's basketball.
Moore was named the 2021 WBCA National Coach of the Year and is a four-time ACC Coach of the Year (2017, 2021, 2022 and 2024), AP National Coach of the Year Runner-Up (2019) and has 15 total Coach of the Year honors.
Coach Moore's 857 wins ranks No. 2 among active coaches in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball, as well as fourth among men's and women's coaches. Coach Moore has 51 ranked wins in his career, as well as 24 NCAA Tournament appearances, five Sweet 16s, two Elite 8s and now one Final Four coming last season in 2024.
Under Coach Moore's leadership, the Pack picked up several postseason awards by the league. Aziaha James, Saniya Rivers and Zoe Brooks were tabbed to the All-ACC First Team and Tilda Trygger was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. Brooks was named the ACC Most Improved Player, the first time the school has picked up that award from the league.
Coach Moore's staff has been big in NC State women's basketball's success. Associate head coach Nikki West is in her 10th season at NC State (2013-2018, 2022-present), and she has been working with Coach Moore for 20 years. Coach West and assistant Kevin Leatherwood work with the posts. Brittany Morris is in her fourth year and Ashley Williams is in her third season, having played for the Pack and Coach Moore from 2013-17, while both work close with the guards. Houston Fancher is in his seventh year on Coach Moore's staff and Rachel Stockdale (Executive Director of Operations) and Brandon Miller (Director of Scouting and Video Operations) have been at NC State for 12 and eight years, respectively. Graduate manager Kayla Jones is in her second year in her role after having played for Coach Moore from 2017-22.
Coach Moore and the Pack will find out the team's postseason fate on Selection Sunday, set for Sunday, March 16 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalists
1. Geno Auriemma, UConn
2. Kenny Brooks, Kentucky
3. Mark Campbell, TCU
4. Cori Close, UCLA
5. Lindsey Gottlieb, USC
6. Niele Ivey, Notre Dame
7. Wes Moore, NC State
8. Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt
9. Vic Schaefer, Texas
10. Dawn Staley, South Carolina
