Wendell Moore joined the Lamar University men’s basketball coaching staff in June 2021 after spending the previous four seasons with Prairie View A&M. During his time at Prairie View, Moore helped three-time SWAC Coach of the Year and 2021 Hugh Durham Coach of the Year award winner, Byron Smith, build the Panthers into the pre-imminent power in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
While in Prairie View, he helped coach three regular-season SWAC championship teams, as well as the 2019 squad that advanced to the NCAA Championships. Prairie View A&M also recorded 73-49 (.598) overall record and a mark that includes a 22-win campaign in 2018-19.
In SWAC contests, the Panthers posted an impressive .835 winning percentage while Moore was on staff. Prairie View went 56-11 during that time – a record that included an undefeated season in 2020-21 and a one-loss campaign in 2018-19. The Panthers also built one of the nation’s longest home win streaks during his time on staff.
As a member of the PVAMU coaching staff, Moore helped develop the 2020 SWAC Player of the Year and the 2019 league defensive player of the year. Those two awards highlighted a list of four first-team all-conference selections from the previous season.
Moore joined the Prairie View staff from Butler County Junior College (El Dorado, Kansas) where he spent the two previous seasons. Moore was also instrumental in helping Butler County build its program as well. The Grizzlies made consecutive appearances in the Region VI final four and produced a first-team All-Region selection in LaJuan Hardy (2015).
Moore spent two seasons at Tulsa before moving to Kansas. During his brief stay in Tulsa, Moore assisted then Conference USA Coach of the Year, Danny Manning (2014), in leading the Golden Hurricane to a conference regular season and tournament championship. That same season, Moore played a pivotal role in the development of 2014 C-USA Player of the Year, James Woodard, and current NBA veteran Shaquille Harrison.
His time in Tulsa was one of three NCAA Division I coaching stops for Moore during a seven-year stretch. He also worked at UMKC and Florida Atlantic. During his time with UMKC, Moore worked with Alex Bazzell and Daniel Brady. Bazzell is now considered one of the NBA’s top skills trainers, and Brady has gone on to serve as an assistant in the NBA.
Moore also worked with future NBA coach, Rex Walters, during his brief stint at Florida Atlantic (2006-08). During his time in Boca Raton, he also helped recruit the Sun Belt’s all-time leading shot blocker, Brett Royster, and three first-team all-conference selections.
Prior to taking the FAU job, Moore spent two seasons at Redlands Junior College assisting 2018 NJCAA Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Eck. During that time, the Cougars posted a 50-10 (.833) overall record, finished second in the Region II championships and produce two All-Americans. Redlands would go on to produce 11 Division I student-athletes during Moore’s time on staff.
Moore brings two years of head coaching experience with him from the high school ranks. He coached at Wyandotte High School – one of the state’s premier programs – where all five of his starters would go on to earn college scholarships.
Moore played his collegiate basketball at Georgia Southern. During his collegiate career, Moore helped lead the Eagles to the 1992 Trans American Athletic Conference title and a spot in the NCAA Championships. Georgia Southern set a school record with 25 wins that season. Moore left GSU as the school’s single-season leader in steals and three-point field-goal percentage. A former all-conference athlete, Moore was named the Chevrolet Most Valuable Player during GSU’s tournament run.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Moore received his bachelor’s degree from GSU in 1993. Moore and his wife, Tamelia, have three children – Noah, Peydan and Aunni.
