Monday, September 27, 2010

A GRYPHON GLIMPSE - Ed Moore

Rocky Mount's first soccer coach Ed Moore
Most Rocky Mount High School soccer fans know that both the girls' and boys' programs have been consistent winners the past few years - winning conference titles and going deep into the state playoffs.

But it was not always that way. Just ask Ed Moore.

Moore was not only one my college classmates at N.C. Wesleyan, he was also the very first boys and girls soccer coach at RMHS. Moore, prior to graduation from NCWC, was a pretty good soccer player himself who had gotten his prep experience all over the nation as a Marine brat. He finished his high school career at Lejeune High before coming to Wesleyan.

He was recruited by former RMHS AD Walt Wiggins to get the two soccer programs off the ground.

And he did.

"I spent four great years at RMHS," said Moore recently. "(I) started coaching the boys in the fall of 1982, and the girls in the spring of 1983. Who knew it would be the beginning of a long career? That's where I developed a love for coaching! It's truly where my passion lies.

"I have fond memories of my time at RMHS, and I'm thrilled to hear that the programs have grown into something great," Moore said. "I'd love to hear where many of my former players are now.

"I imagine they are in their mid-forties. The time flies!"

Moore now lives in Texas and is still coaching, for the time being.

"I moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in 1993," he added. "I started coaching a couple of boys' teams in the local select league. Now I coach a group of girls who are seniors. I plan to retire after this group graduates."


(A Gryphon Glimpse is a regular series of posts featuring former Rocky Mount High School athletes or coaches.)