Great Interview with Coach Moore by Scott Fowler

[appbanker]

This is probably behind a pay wall from the Charlotte observer. It is an interview by Scott Fowler with Coach Moore, part of his Sports Legends of the Carolinas. Also in podcast form

Mountain Man: Former App State Coach Jerry Moore

Love this answer:

SF: What did you look for when recruiting a potential App State player?
JM: (Laughs) Now I’m not an App State guy. I’m an Appalachian State guy. They took me in a room after they hired me here and made me learn how to pronounce “Appalachian State.”

Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sport ... rylink=cpy

[BambooRdApp]

Yes, they did not bring him in a room and say "Roll Neers"..

[PoplarHillApp]

I wonder who “they” were that wanted him gone so badly.

[Saint3333]

There was a journalist (not an attention farmer) that pulled the conversations (emails) from before the 2012 season via the FOIA that paints a different story.

Love what the man did for Appalachian, but there are two sides to every story with the truth usually in the middle. I'd like an offseason where this isn't needed to be stated for both party's sake.

[goapps]

This is probably behind a pay wall from the Charlotte observer. It is an interview by Scott Fowler with Coach Moore, part of his Sports Legends of the Carolinas. Also in podcast form

Mountain Man: Former App State Coach Jerry Moore

Love this answer:

SF: What did you look for when recruiting a potential App State player?
JM: (Laughs) Now I’m not an App State guy. I’m an Appalachian State guy. They took me in a room after they hired me here and made me learn how to pronounce “Appalachian State.”

Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sport ... rylink=cpy

Me too coach, I understand why they needed to market us as "App State" because people can't pronounce Appalachian correctly. I'm fine with it but don't use it myself. If asked where I went to school my response is either Appalachian or simply App.

[T-Dog]

There was a journalist (not an attention farmer) that pulled the conversations (emails) from before the 2012 season via the FOIA that paints a different story.

Love what the man did for Appalachian, but there are two sides to every story with the truth usually in the middle. I'd like an offseason where this isn't needed to be stated for both party's sake.

Found em

Dec. 20, 2011, letter from Cobb to Moore:

Coach,

I write this letter with the utmost respect and admiration for you as a man and mentor. I appreciate everything that Margaret and you have done for Lindsay, my kids, and me since I was named AD in May 2005. Harrison still talks about coach giving him his first Appalachian t-shirt at Hilton Head.

Through the years and especially recently since “sitting in this chair” I’ve learned that men sometimes have a difficult time expressing their true feelings when they sit and talk. Last night, as I lay awake trying to figure out the right things, I remembered that you gave me a book the day before our 2005 game against Coastal Carolina. So, I opened it again to read the passage that you wrote thanking me for the energy being created for the first game. Your words were as true last night as they were that first weekend.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve thought a lot about the football program, but, most importantly, you and Margaret. What we’ve accomplished the past seven years is remarkable when anyone thinks back to the circumstances of 2005. Coach, I am genuinely concerned for you and for Margaret. I see our strengths — the tradition, our reputation, facilities, and scholarship funding — and realize most of this has been accomplished in the recent cycle. However, I also see our weaknesses — the lack of chemistry on your staff, the potential for 6-7 new coaches due to attrition, a new strength coach for the off-season workouts, and the lingering mood surrounding the program from as you describe “ a tough season.” I also don’t see a program that is in disarray because we have good kids and good players, but one that needs new voices. I have no doubts that you will work longer and harder to make it work, but you are only one man of 12-13 others responsible for the direction. What I see for the next year is a man that I revere paddling as hard as he can so as to not drown versus being able to stand and admire all that he has built.

Right now, we have a chance to build the appropriate legacy for you with this program. Without a doubt, you have raised the expectation bar, but I firmly believe that where we are right now goes way beyond wins and losses. At most places, an 8-win season is celebrated, but you acknowledged to many throughout the season that this was your toughest year in coaching. Short of being able to guarantee a championship season, I’m not sure people, especially the ones that matter - will be satisfied. And, honestly, even if we were to win a fourth title, does that make it all good in the end if you have to exhaust yourself physically and mentally to accomplish it? I think back to Margaret’s reaction after theMainegame and am worried that the risk to everything you’ve accomplished is not worth trying to win a few more ball games. As I told you on Sunday, I do not want you to become [TEXT REDACTED] or Appalachian to become  [TEXT REDACTED] by you and me trying to make this partnership work too long.

Everybody that loves and respects you is trying to protect you and your legacy. No one wants to see you  [TEXT REDACTED]. We care too much. Regardless of your willpower and mental toughness, the reality of next season is a year without  [TEXT REDACTED], new coaches whose commitment to you and the program is unknown, a new strength coach leading the off-season program, and the “is this Coach’s last year” prevalent before and during the season. And, unlike 2005 when I arrived, there is no clear cohesion among your staff about direction and I’m not sure that the proper trust can be created by a group of new coaches in a short period of time. I also think trying to put that staff together is going to be tough given our circumstances… My guess is about right now, you’re getting charged up and ready to fight the fight. That’s not my intention in writing this. My intention is to clearly point out to you the great challenges that lie in front of us in trying to make another season work. Being rational, I do not think the 20-hour days or sleeping in your office is in your best interest.

I write all this to tell you “it’s time.” I also know that everybody who knows your family and our current situation feels the same way. Why?

1. This protects you and your legacy at Appalachian. As  [TEXT REDACTED] told you, this is the very best possible exit strategy because you go out “a winner.”

2. The timing allows for the proper transition of the program. I am fairly confident that the new coach will keep some of the remaining staff, so these guys can be taken care of as well. We can execute a search quickly after Christmas, so any lost momentum in the recruiting cycle will be minimal.

3. Emotionally, it allows you and Margaret the ability to go do many new and exciting things without the strain of another season. I’ve witnessed this transition with [TEXT REDACTED]

4. And finally, financially, this is the best deal for you and Margaret.

i. The job title is “Special Assistant to the Athletics Director.” In essence, you would be a friendraiser and fundraiser for football program…

Our ambassador. You can be around the program and kids daily. You will have an office near Rick and me to use as necessary.

ii. Technically, we would set the job up to be an independent contractor relationship paid by Yosef Club. This allows you to earn income from speeches, presentations, etc. without undue restraint by the University. You would have to establish your own health coverage, but we can work with the guys at Blue Cross to put something together.

iii. This would be a three-year commitment (January 1, 2012 – December

31, 2014) at $100,000 per year. You also would be eligible to start drawing your retirement, which is an additional [TEXT REDACTED] per month.

Additionally, your monthly social security is added too. Plus, by retiring, you can immediately receive payment for your accrued

vacation time, which is currently [TEXT REDACTED] before taxes. So, financially, you are making as much or more as you currently do.

Coach, I understand what I’m asking. I ask you to share this with Margaret and think about this over the next couple of days. With everything going on, if I didn’t think this was in your best interest, I would not come to you with this. I trust you and Margaret understand that.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading and thinking about this.

-

Dec. 31, 2011, memo from Cobb to Peacock:

MEMORANDUM

To: Ken Peacock

From: Charlie Cobb

Date: December 31, 2011

Re: Football Transition

Ken, as part of our discussions, I felt this could help facilitate the conversation.

We agree that it is time for Coach Moore to retire. I communicated this to him prior to Christmas. After some thought, he understands that it is time for him to define his retirement but has requested to coach one final season in 2012. And while I was initially disappointed that Coach was not in agreement with everything I proposed, I have since thought through all the positives and negatives of his request and strongly believe this is the best option for all parties involved. I have tried to think about what is best for Appalachian while also thinking about how you or I would respond to a similar request. I am comfortable that the following recommendation addresses our two major concerns after the season – a definitive retirement date for Coach and several staff changes – that were accomplished in the past two weeks.

Recommendation: The 2012 football season is Coach Moore’s last season as head coach. He will retire immediately following the final game of the 2012 season. This would be communicated immediately to him and the staff and announced publicly in the spring although it is assumed that it will be public before then.

This solution is best for Appalachian based on the following 3 reasons:

1. Potential FBS transition. As we discussed before the holidays, the conference realignment process has reached the point that it touches Appalachian. We should know this spring or summer what opportunities, if any, exist for us. This will make our future conference affiliation a known part of the decision-making process following the 2012 season and not speculative, as it would be in the next several weeks. I cannot stress the importance of knowing this direction in terms of creating the best available candidate pool. Also, potentially, the 2012 season will be the first of our 2-year transition period. If so, it is beneficial for this to begin with our existing situation instead of a new staff in terms of creating momentum during the transition years.

2. Financial. Coach Moore has a salary agreement offered and approved by the BOT in 2009 to coach the 2012-2013 season at a base salary of $230,000. [TEXT REDACTED]. Additionally, I calculated that we owe an additional $265,000 in severance and accrued vacation leave to the 11 members of our current staff. This puts the total financial commitment at $500,000 to make a change at this point in time.

The right new head coach will want somewhere in the $250,000-350,000 annual range and my guess is $650,000 for his assistant’s salaries. [TEXT REDACTED] The head coach’s annual salary is $500,000 and the pool for assistants is $1.3 million. For comparison, our salary pool for 10 assistants is currently $520,000, which is third in the SoCon [TEXT REDACTED] Given our continuing need to absorb the out-of-state waiver and the recent reduction in our approved student fee request for 2012-13 by approximately $225,000, I am not comfortable spending from our current operating budget or reserves, especially as this could negatively impact funds for possible realignment. I do think that we will need to increase spending for the vacant assistant coaching positions, but this will be a fraction of costs for a new staff.

Our 2012 schedule is one of the best in recent memory. We will meet our ticket sales goal. We just completed a fundraising year where we reached $1 million by December 31 for the first time in history. We are currently more than 10% ahead of last year, which set a record for the Yosef Club.

3. Public Relations. Of the roughly 250 Division I football programs, Appalachian trails only Boise State in terms of number of games won during the past seven years. I have no doubt that it is in Appalachian’s best interest to allow a natural transition with Jerry versus terminating him, which is what this would be. Secondly, we all anticipate another difficult budget year for campus. Based on current issues, I do not see a viable way for you or me to explain to interested parties how we spent the referenced money. I also think we can be successful in 2012 if everyone is committed to making this work because we have already answered the chemistry questions of 2011 with current staff changes.

There are plenty of respectable coaches who will coach the 2012 season at Appalachian under this scenario once the go-ahead is given. I also do not think a transition year will negatively impact recruiting for several reasons. One, effective recruiting is an inexact science by nature. Second, over the last several years, kids being recruited by us have not come in with the expectation to play for Coach their entire college careers. Three, because of the unstable nature of coaching, no kid being recruited by any staff inAmericacan be honestly told that they will play for that coach or staff for his entire career. In the SoCon alone, every team but Wofford and us changed head coaches in the past five years or, more accurately, during the college life of kids in the 2011 graduating class.

Potentially, new members of our 2012 staff could look like:

• Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks coach o Bill Stewart, former head coach at West Virginia following Rich Rodriquez. He and Jerry are long-time friends and Bill knows our offense since West Virginia is where our staff went in 2004 to learn the spread offense.

 

• Offensive line coach o Bill has a coach from [TEXT REDACTED] that he wants to bring with him.

• Receivers coach o We are targeting [TEXT REDACTED] for his leadership and knowledge of the offense.

• [TEXT REDACTED] o [TEXT REDACTED] would move from the[TEXT REDACTED], a position that he has coached previously.

• [TEXT REDACTED] o [TEXT REDACTED] and will do a great job in this minimum-salary position.

• Defensive secondary position o Dale Jones is targeting a veteran college coach from [TEXT REDACTED] and/or a defensive assistant at [TEXT REDACTED].


Ken, I realize the recommendation that I am making will require me to be more directly involved on a day to day basis in terms of leadership and chemistry within the staff and with the players. This is something that I will establish with Coach if you are on board with this recommendation. I believe I can do this in a way that helps Coach and the football program if we have an agreement of my role from the beginning. Ken, the 8-3 season of 2011 was never about a lack of talent but solely about disjointed chemistry that eventually effected every person involved in the program. With these issues resolved, we have a team that can compete. There is nothing that would be more of a storybook ending to this journey for Appalachian, Coach Moore and the thousands of Appalachian fans for our football team to win a 4th National Championship in Coach’s final year. I believe that with you and the Board of Trustees’ support we have a legitimate chance of making this happen.

Thanks for reading,

Charlie

[Saint3333]

Cobb allowed Moore the choice to announce pre or post season. Moore chose the latter.

You can debate whether it was right to begin that discussion following the 2011 season, but to paint Peacock and Cobb as being insensitive or unprofessional on this specific matter is inaccurate.

Thanks for posting Tdog.

[Bigdaddyg1]

It’s always difficult to part ways with a legendary coach especially when the coach gets a bit older. It’s probably especially more difficult when said coach doesn’t want to step down. I can’t imagine how either side would feel. This had to be very tough for all the parties involved. It looks like everything worked out in the end as coach Moore has been around lots of events.

[ASUFan4863]

Clark made it a point to bring back Moore and publicly show it. As a younger alum, can anyone talk on what the tension was like between JM and Satterfield in the early FBS years?

[Saint3333]

Clark made it a point to bring back Moore and publicly show it. As a younger alum, can anyone talk on what the tension was like between JM and Satterfield in the early FBS years?

I'm not aware of tension between those two. Satterfield was Jerry's QB from 1991-1995. He would joke that Satterfield wasn't a great passer or great runner, but he was a winner. Jerry then rehired Satt in 1998 as WR coach, QB coach 2003-2008 (called the plays). He didn't want to leave, but Cobb told him he wouldn't be the HC without outside experience. He then went to Toledo and FIU before being brought back in 2012 as AHC/OC. Whether Jerry had a say in that I'm not certain of either way. But had a lot of respect for each other from the outside looking in.

Moore hated Cobb and imagine still does. But that list isn't just Moore from that era.

[T-Dog]

Jerry was at the 2013 Senior Day game with Jamal Londry-Jackson and was at a 2014 game IIRC.

There was also Corey Lynch's 2014 comments to ESPN about how he would never go back after how App treated Jerry, which didn't help. Corey has since been back several times.

The combo of Jerry saying he was blindsided and Satterfield starting his career 5-13 led to a lot of discontent.

I believe Satterfield saved the program from falling off a cliff following the 2011 season. Spear left for Western and took half the coaches, S&C left, Cobb had to fire Jerry's son and the OL coach after an embarrassing incident involving the former, a player mutiny for the latter and gaining 3 total rushing yards versus Maine in a playoff game. Then there was the sexual assault investigation debacle involving several players (not Jerry's fault at all) that was confusing and cast a shadow. If Satterfield doesn't come back that holiday season and essentially hires the staff himself, 2012 goes down way different.

[BambooRdApp]

I do not know all the live meetings that happened with Coach Moore during the process to get to the email above.
Maybe I am old school, however, there are certain conversations that are needed to be in person. If you are writing an email that long...at some point, the realization should come into play...maybe this is better said in person. .in addition given the fact that he was the GOAT of coaches for App. St
.... maybe all the discussions were had and live communication had been cut off at that point. I have no idea if so or not..If not, seems like a piss poor mode of communication (an email) on a topic as important as this in my opinion.
As stated, I do not have all the details. When I am having a crucial conversation with my professionals, it is always live and subsequent conversations are live.

[Saint3333]

True, and when dealing with those decisions I bet your legal counsel would suggest you follow up with a written note to document it.

[BambooRdApp]

Well, my legal team would state to keep it short as possible and stuck to the facts ...as the more you type the more you have to defend in court

[Saint3333]

Well, my legal team would state to keep it short as possible and stuck to the facts ...as the more you type the more you have to defend in court

These are government lawyers. :D

[AppYosef!]

I listened to the podcast of the interview and it was great! You can tell Coach Moore's memory is still sharp and his love for Appalachian State certainly shows. I know of some former players who distanced themselves from the program after he was let go (even some who played alongside Satterfield). I am glad to see Coach Moore back at games and many of those former players are back supporting the team again as well. It seems that Coach Clark and some others have made mending fences a priority over the past few years.

[AppinVA]

True, and when dealing with those decisions I bet your legal counsel would suggest you follow up with a written note to document it.

Always follow up with an email. I am going to go out on a short limb and guess that email was a follow-up to an in-person conversation.

And I also agree with Bamboo. Less is more.

[AppfaninCAALand]

Just thought I would add that Fowler's podcast "Sports Legends of the Carolinas" has been a mostly good listen of which Moore is the newest - it is on Spotify and not paywalled as the OP feared. Fowler has had folks like Armanti, Dale Jr, Coach K, Mugsy Bogues. I recommend it.

[NewApp]

Other than the interview, this whole thread was unnecessary

[Pikapp79]

Huge Coach Moore fan. The decision was the correct one.