Story Links
PULLMAN, Wash. (Dec. 12, 2025) – Washington State University Interim Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow announced Friday that Kirby Moore has been named the Cougars’ Head Football Coach. Moore agreed in principle to a five-year contract and becomes the 36th head football coach in program history.
A formal press conference introducing Moore will be held Tuesday, Dec. 16, with more details to follow.
“Coach Moore is the real deal, and exactly who we needed to propel us to the top of the new Pac-12,” said WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell. “Our student-athletes have lucked out. This man cares deeply not only about winning, but their success on and off the field. We look forward to welcoming Coach Moore and his family to Pullman, and to Coug Nation. Join me in wrapping Coach Moore in Cougar Pride. Go Cougs!”
Moore has strong ties to eastern Washington, having grown up in Prosser, Wash., where his father, Tom, was a legendary football coach at Prosser High School. He has spent the past three seasons serving as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Missouri for Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz.
“Today is a great day for Cougar Football and we are thrilled to welcome Kirby, his wife Kayla, and children, Sutton, Cohen and Crew to the Cougar Family.” said Haarlow. “Kirby Moore is regarded as one of the top young coaches in college football with proven success throughout multiple levels of his coaching career. He has an innovative offensive mind and a team-oriented approach that will resonate with and elevate our student-athletes. Throughout the process, his energy and commitment to wholistically developing our student-athletes, on the field and off, along with his ties to eastern Washington and familiarity with Washington State University make him the right leader for Cougar Football.
“As we enter the new Pac-12, it is imperative that we provide the necessary resources for sustainable success within the conference and nationally,” Haarlow added.
“I’m honored and excited to join Washington State University as its new head football coach,” said Moore. “Becoming a first-time head coach at a special place like Washington State is a dream come true for my family and I. I want to thank President Cantwell and Jon Haarlow for the opportunity to return home and continue the proud tradition of Cougar football. The future of our program is bright. I look forward to leading this team and making our state proud!
“Our commitment to excellence will be evident on the field and in the community, while competing for championships,” Moore continued. “We can’t wait to get on the Palouse and get to work. Go Cougs!”
During the 2025 season, Moore has helped Missouri to an 8-4 record and a spot in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Virginia, Dec. 27. Under his guidance, sophomore running back Ahmed Hardy became one of the nation’s premier rushers, leading the country in rushing on a per-game basis (130.0 YPG) while ranking second nationally in total yards rushing (1,560) and fifth in total touchdowns (16). One of three national finalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back, he was named the Associate Press Newcomer of the Year, the SEC Newcomer of the Year, while also garnering First-Team All-America honors from The Athletic, USA Today, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated.
Moore, who has over 10 years of coaching experience, mentored quarterback Brady Cook to an illustrious career, including 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP and 2024 TransPerfect Music City Bowl honors. Under two years with Moore’s guidance, Cook completed 445-of-690 (.645) passes for 5,852 yards with 32 touchdowns, while adding 200 rushing attempts for 542 yards (2.71) with 13 scores. Cook, a three-time team captain, went 21-5 during that stretch and 26-13 all-time as Mizzou’s starter, which ranks second in wins by a Tigers quarterback.
Moore also helped in the development of running back Cody Schrader and wide receiver Luther Burden III, who both garnered Associated Press All-America recognition in 2023. Schrader, a First Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, was named the winner of the prestigious Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the most outstanding player in the nation who began his career as a walk-on. He compiled 1,627 rushing yards on 276 carries (5.89) with 14 touchdowns during his final season with the Tigers. Burden III finished his career a two-time First Team All-SEC honoree (2023 & 2024) after registering 192 receptions for 2,263 (11.79) yards with 21 touchdowns.
In his first two seasons with Moore calling the plays, the Tigers went from 58th nationally in third down conversion percentage the year prior to his arrival, to 41st and 16th respectively, since. Additionally, the Tigers have improved in red zone offense (90th in 2022 to 3rd and 10th in 2023 and 2024), fumbles lost (111th to 3rd and 15th), turnovers lost (91st to 6th and 3rd), passes had intercepted (48th to 21st and 5th), total offense (81st to 28th, 63rd) and tackles for loss allowed (121st to 74th and 33rd).
The 2023 Mizzou offense, led by the trio of Cook, Schrader and Burden III, helped Mizzou become the only unit in the country to produce a 3,000-yard passer, 1,500-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver that season. It was the first time the Tigers accomplished the feat in program history and just the second time in SEC lore.
Moore arrived at Missouri after a one-year (2022) stint as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), under head coach Jeff Tedford. He was named the Bulldogs’ primary play caller for the 2021 New Mexico Bowl – a 31-24 win featuring 467 yards of total offense – 181 rushing and 286 passing. Before being promoted, Moore spent five seasons as the Bulldogs’ wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator (2020-21) and wide receivers coach (2017-19).
In 2022, Fresno State won the Mountain West Conference championship and defeated Washington State, 29-6, in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. The Bulldogs ended the season on a nine-game winning streak, the first team in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision history to begin the year 1-4 and finish with 10 wins. Fresno State was ranked second in the FBS in completion percentage (.710) and led the Mountain West in scoring and total offense, averaging 30.6 points per game and 402.6 yards per game, respectively.
Under Moore’s guidance, five Bulldogs earned All-MWC honors, including three first-teamers in quarterback Jake Haener, wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper and running back Jordan Mims. Haener finished his final season completing 252-of-350 (.720) pass attempts for 2,896 yards with 20 touchdowns. He added a 158.65 efficiency rating and averaged 290.00 passing yards per game. Fresno State narrowly missed having a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher (Mims – 1,370 yards) and 1,000-yard receiver (Moreno-Cropper – 1,086 yards) in 2022, because Haener missed four games early in the year due to injury.
Moreno-Cropper concluded his Bulldogs career a three-time All-MWC selection and graduated ranked fifth all-time in program history in receptions (220), eighth in receiving touchdowns (21) and ninth in receiving yards (2,701). Mims wrapped up his tenure in the Cardinal red and blue, ranking tied for third all-time in school lore for rushing touchdowns (37), fourth in rushing yards (3,290), and fifth in all-purpose yards (4,592).
In his two seasons (2020-21) as the passing game coordinator, Moore guided the Bulldogs to a national ranking of fifth in 2020 and ninth in 2021 in passing offense, while finishing 32nd and 17th in completion percentage. He mentored Haener during that stretch to 2,021 and 4,096 passing yards with 14 and 33 passing touchdowns, respectively.
Moore was named to 247Sports.com 30-under-30 list as one of college football’s rising stars in 2017 and 2018 and was 247Sports.com‘s top recruiter in the Mountain West in 2019. In two of his first three seasons at Fresno, the Bulldogs wideout unit finished with one 1,000-yard and one 500-yard receiver. Keesean Johnson led the way with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons following his 1,013 receiving yards in 2017 and 1,340 yards in 2018. Johnson became the program’s all-time leader in both career receptions (275) and career receiving yards (3,463) during his final season in 2018.
Prior to his time on staff at Fresno State, Moore was an offensive graduate assistant at the University of Washington (2015-16). While with the Huskies, Moore was part of the 2016 team that won the Pac-12 Championship, advanced to the College Football Playoffs, and climbed as high as No. 4 in the CFP rankings.
Moore started his career as the wide receivers coach at the College of Idaho in 2014.
Moore was a four-year letterwinner, two-year starter, at the Boise State University (2009; 2010-13), where he helped the Broncos to a 45-8 record, including a 2009 WAC Championship and a 2012 Mountain West Co-Championship. He also helped the Broncos to four consecutive bowl appearances (2009 Tostitos Fiesta, 2011 and 2012 MAACO Las Vegas and 2013 Hawai’i Bowls) as well as a final national top-20 ranking in three-of-four seasons (2009, 2011, 2012). Moore, a wide receiver, caught 115 receptions for 1,137 yards with six touchdowns in 45 career games. Following the 2013 season, he earned Academic All-District VII and Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors.
Moore graduated from Boise State with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2012 and received his master’s degree from Washington intercollegiate athletic leadership in 2016. He played for his father, Tom, at Prosser High School, and played with his older brother Kellen, at Boise State for three seasons (2009-11). Tom compiled a record of 234-38 (.860) record over 23 years as a high school coach, winning 21 league titles and playing in eight state championship games. Kellen, a 2018 Boise State Hall of Fame inductee, was a four-time first-team All-American and the first Heisman Trophy finalist in school history. He led Boise State to a 50-3 record over his four-year starting career and concluded his time as a Bronco as the winningest quarterback in college football history. Kellen is currently the head coach with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.
Moore, 35, is married to the former Kayla Smasne of Prosser, Wash., and they are the parents of daughter, Sutton, and sons, Cohen and Crew.
MOORE’S COACHING CAREER
- 2025-pres. – Washington State (Head Coach)
- 2023-2025 – Missouri (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- 2022 – Fresno State (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
- 2020-21 – Fresno State (Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator)
- 2017-19 – Fresno State (Wide Receivers)
- 2015-16 – Washington (Graduate Assistant/Offense)
- 2014 – College of Idaho (Wide Receivers)
