Moore leaving Minster

Following three seasons on the sidelines at Minster Memorial Field, Wildcats head football coach Nate Moore announced to his team on Tuesday afternoon that he would not be returning for a fourth year.

Moore was named the new head coach of Cincinnati LaSalle on Tuesday evening. LaSalle is a member of the Greater Catholic League, one of the most dominant big-school conferences in Southwest Ohio and the state.

"First and foremost, I want to thank the parents and the community of Minster for all they have done for me over the course of the past few years," said Moore. "We enjoyed a lot of success here in the past few years, but I wasn't the one who made the touchdowns or tackles on Friday nights. That success really had to do with the kids in the program."

Prior to Moore's arrival in Minster in 2010, the Wildcats had not won more than six games in a year for the previous 13 seasons and qualified for the playoffs only twice over that same time span. That changed immediately when Moore helped guide Minster to the Division VI postseason in all three years he was in charge. Minster finished 7-6 overall in 2010 and followed with a 9-4 slate the following season. Last year, the Orange and Black went 9-3 overall and were the top team in Region 24 after concluding the Midwest Athletic Conference portion of their schedule with a 6-2 mark, good for a second-place tie in the league standings.

"We experienced a lot of wins over the past few seasons, which is wonderful," Moore explained. "The true measure of success will come though in a few years when our players become successful people in life. I still look forward to that."

In making the move from the Midwest Athletic Conference, Moore will leap from the most dominant small-school conference in the state to the well-respected GCL. He takes over for 10-year veteran head coach Tom Grippa (59-44), who left the Lancer program after last season's 4-6 record. Moore feels his stint in the MAC will help immensely when facing Cincinnati powers Moeller, Elder and St. Xavier on an annual basis in the GCL's South Division.

"I couldn't have dreamed of something like this 10 years ago when I looked at where I wanted my coaching career to take me, so I am truly honored to be taking this step," he remarked. "Coaching in the MAC has definitely prepared me for this wonderful opportunity. In the MAC, you have to be prepared every week and you can't have any weaknesses or someone will take advantage of it. It will also be that way in the GCL, and I am very happy that coaching in Minster has helped me to grow tremendously and prepared me for any challenges that lie ahead."

Moore offered a life lesson when addressing his team in Minster on Tuesday.

"I talked a lot about adversity and how to go on from here," he concluded. "This team belongs to the seniors, and I have no doubt that the coaching staff will help lead them and continue to build on the success they have already earned."