After serving as an assistant coach since 1999, Bryan Moore is finally a head football coach. The former Thomas More College coach becomes the 24th known head football coach in Wilmington College history.

“Bryan immediately rose to the top of the list due to his experience in helping rebuild football programs,” said Terry Rupert, vice president of athletic administration and athletic director at WC. “The committee feels that experience with Division III programs, including one in the Ohio Athletic Conference, will serve us well here at Wilmington. We are excited for Bryan to get started.”

A 1994 graduate of Brookfield High School, a small school located near Youngstown, Moore comes to WC after serving as the offensive coordinator at Bluffton College. His offensive prowess was evident as the Beavers established single-season school records in points per game, total yards per game and passing yards per game. Under his tutelage, Micah Roberson led NCAA Division III with 100 receptions in 2015.

“(Wilmington) was a good fit because of the places that I’ve been, the last four stops I have been on staffs that have helped turn programs around,” said Moore, who has been an assistant at five colleges in the last 18 seasons. “We got in there with losing records and left with pretty established programs. I think that was a pretty good draw on a resume.

“For me professionally, I think the natural next step for was there (as a head coach). I’ve played in the OAC and I’ve coached successfully in the OAC, so I think that was a good fit, too.”

Prior to coaching at Bluffton, Moore had a hand in helping Heidelberg University resurrect its program. The Student Princes were 1-39 in the four years prior to the arrival of a new coaching staff, and within four years, Heidelberg finished 8-2. The Student Princes qualified for the NCAA playoffs in year five.

He served as the offensive coordinator and special team coordinator for the Student Princes. Moore also coached the receivers, and two members of his receiving corps played in the National Football League. As offensive coordinator at Emory & Henry, he helped the Wasps to a five-game improvement in his only season.

His first full-time coaching experience came at Thomas More College, where he was the strength and conditioning coordinator and special teams coordinator. He eventually was elevated to assistant head coach during his time with the Saints. Within his first three seasons with Thomas More, the Saints went from 3-7 to 10-0, and qualified for the NCAA playoffs.

“The opportunity to get back to the OAC was important to me,” Moore, who started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Bethany College in 1999. “To be within an hour of three major recruiting markets, the ability to offer some unique majors, and the addition of the Center for Sports Sciences, made the job very appealing. My family and I are anxious to get started.”

Moore and his wife Sheila have six children, River Carpenter, Skye Carpenter, Landen Carpenter, Legacy Moore, Legend Moore and Honor Moore.