Westmont College Warriors

The 2021-22 season is Kirsten Moore 18th season as head coach of the Warriors. The veteran coach enters the year with a record of 397-128 (.756) 

In 2020-21, Moore led the program to its second National Championship. For her efforts, Moore was named NAIA Coach of the Year for the second time in her career.

"Honestly, I just consider it a privilege to coach these young women every day," said Moore. "They teach me and inspire me.

"My overwhelming feeling is gratitude toward their willingness to trust me and to let me lead them through this year of adversity and trust that good can come from it. It was a daily process of trying to maintain our hope, to continue to increase our faith, and to choose to love one another through thick and thin."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Warriors played just 16 games during the 2020-21 season, but went 15-1 with their only loss of the season coming against NCAA Division I Pepperdine, in the club's season opener.

Westmont went on to win 15 straight, going undefeated against NAIA opponents and leaving Sioux City, Iowa with their first red banner since 2013.

In the NAIA Opening Round, Moore's Warriors set a program record by sinking 21 3-pointers during a 97-62 win over Montana Western to punch their ticket to the final site. Lauren Tsuneishi led the way for the Warriors with eight 3-pointers made and after the game a confident Coach Moore said, "I woke up this morning thinking Lauren Tsuneishi was going to set a tournament record for 3-point shots today. And she didn't do it individually, but we did it as a team."

In the round of 16, Lyon (Ark.) proved to be Westmont's greatest challenge in Sioux City, as the Warriors defeated the Scots by a close score of 66-60. In the Quarterfinals Westmont blew past Clarke (Iowa) by a score of 90-68, and outlasted Indiana Wesleyan 74-65 in the semis to set up a date in the Championship Game with #1 seed Thomas More (Ky.)

Led by NAIA Player of the Year Stefanie Berberabe and Second Team All-American Iyree Jarrett, Westmont won it all by a score 72-61.

During the post game celebration, Moore said, "It feels amazing. I am so happy for these young women because of how hard they have worked to get to this point. Day in and day out, they have been willing to do the little things, whatever was in their control."

Moore then spoke to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging the circumstances that made quite a bit out of their control.

"There were a lot of things (that were out of our control). However, whatever was in our control to do, we tried to make a commitment to do that. Whether it was sandbag workout in their backyards or basements, or running on asphalt because tracks weren't open, they did it.

"I am so proud of them for their relentless and fearless approach to what was before them." 

Her Warriors also won the National Championship in 2012-13 and finished as National Runner-Up in 2017-18.

Moore was named 2012-13 NAIA Coach of the Year after leading her team to the program's first ever National Championship. Her Warriors went 30-4 on the season and won the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season championship with a perfect 14-0 record in GSAC play.

Westmont made a return trip to the National Championship Game in 2018, falling to Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 76-64 and finishing as National Runner-Up. The Warriors, who went 26-7 during the 2017-18 campaign, won both the GSAC regular season and tournament championships.

In the 2019-20 season, Westmont (27-3) entered the NAIA National Tournament as the #1 overall seed for the first time in program history, but the tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Warriors were credited with their 10th straight National Tournament appearance and finished the season as the NAIA's top-ranked team.

Westmont won the 2019-20 GSAC regular season championship with a 17-1 record, before extending its conference record of consecutive GSAC Tournament titles to five. Throughout the season, the Warriors won five games against teams ranked in the top-6 in the NAIA. Moore was named GSAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time and was also selected as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table College Athletics Coach of the Year.

In total, her teams have appeared in four national semifinals, six national quarterfinals, and seven Round of 16's. She has led the program to all six of its GSAC regular season championships and all six of its GSAC Tournament titles.

She has coached 30 of the program’s 34 players to receive All-American honors. The Warriors’ four GSAC Player of the Year honorees and 36 of the program’s 43 All-GSAC performers have played under Moore's leadership.

Additionally, Moore has coached 25 of the program's 31 GSAC Scholar-Athletes and 26 of the Warriors' 32 NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors.

Moore was honored with the NAIA Coach of Character Award in April 2019. She was also inducted into the inaugural class of the Santa Barbara Basketball Court of Champions in June 2014.

In 16 years under Moore's leadership, the Warriors have posted a .751 winning percentage (370-123).

After posting a first year coaching record of 14-16, Moore led the Warriors to a 17-13 record in her second season and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. In 2007-08, the Warriors compiled a record of 21-9, finished the season with a #19 ranking and made a return trip to the NAIA National Tournament.

In 2008-09, Moore’s team matched the previous school record of 22 wins in a season and made their third trip in as many years to the National Championship as the NAIA’s sixteenth-ranked team. In 2009-10, Moore and the Warriors went 18-13 and just missed a return to the National Tournament when they fell to Vanguard in the GSAC Tournament final by a score of 68-66.

The Warriors returned to the National Tournament during the 2010-11 as the NAIA’s twenty-third ranked team. In the 2011-12 season, Westmont compiled a record of 31-4, reaching the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship and earning a number four national ranking. Those 31 wins are the most in a single season in program history, as the team won both the GSAC regular season and conference tournament titles.

The 2013-14 season saw the Warriors post a record of 20-10 and return to the NAIA National Tournament after finishing tied for second in the GSAC standings.

The Warriors made their second semifinal appearance in the NAIA National Championships in 2014-15 season. Defeating Lyon (Ark.) in the opening round, Westmont advance to defeated Westminster (Utah) in the second round and Oklahoma Baptist in the quarterfinals. Westmont lost in the semifinals to eventual national champion Oklahoma City.

In the summer of 2015, Moore led her team on a mission trip to Uganda where they teamed up with Sports Outreach Institute to serve the people of Kampala and Gulu.

The 2015-16 campaign saw the Warriors claim the GSAC Championship with a 15-1 record and then defeat Vanguard to claim the GSAC Tournament Championship. Westmont recorded a first round victory in the NAIA Tournament with a 82-47 win over Huston-Tilotson (Texas), but fell to Lindsay Wilson (Ky.) in the second round by a score of 63-59.

In 2016-17, Westmont earned a berth to the NAIA Tournament by capturing the GSAC Tournament Championship with a win over The Master's. The Warriors, who finished the season with a mark of 29-5, defeated Louisiana State Shreveport 57-52 in the opening round and then advanced to the quarterfinals with a 63-53 second-round win over Lyon (Ark.). Westmont season came to an end with a 72-67 loss to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).

In 2018-19, Westmont won its fourth consecutive GSAC Tournament title to become the first GSAC team to accomplish the feat, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the ninth straight season.

As a coach, Moore seeks to have a positive impact on the lives of her players.

“I would describe myself as encouraging, positive, competitive, passionate about the game and passionate about people,” said Moore. “I want my players to grow deeper in their relationship to God and to see in a very practical sense how that applies to their athletics, their academics and their future job and family.”

Moore came to Westmont in the summer of 2005 from the University of California, Berkeley where she served as an assistant women’s basketball coach for four years. While at Cal, Moore designed and implemented a new recruiting system which produced the number six ranked recruiting class in 2005, including two McDonald All-Americans. Her on court responsibilities for the Golden Bears included match-up zone defense, transition offense and defense, motion offense, triangle offense and guard and forward development.

Initially a walk-on at the University of Oregon, Moore earned a full scholarship and became team captain through a relentless work ethic and positive attitude. After graduation in 1998, Moore served as an assistant coach in the Duck’s women’s basketball program for three years, during which time Oregon won two PAC-10 championships and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

As a collegiate athlete, Moore participated in four NCAA Tournaments and was selected by her teammates as the 1998 Bev Smith Most Inspirational Player.  Twice she earned Academic All-PAC-10 honors and in 1998 she was nominated for regional GTE Academic All-American recognition.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oregon in 1998, Moore continued her education in Eugene, earning an MBA in 2001 with a concentration in marketing and an emphasis in sports business.

In addition to her coaching duties, Moore also serves as Associate Athletic Director.

“My personal goal as Associate Director of Athletics is to share Westmont’s vision with people in the community,” said Moore. “I want people to know what an incredible place Westmont is and what a remarkable experience it is to be a Westmont student-athlete. What is happening in the lives of these student-athletes is significant and I want to share it with others”

Moore is the mother of Alexis who was born in June of 2012. Alexis is named for her late father, Alex, who passed away in May of 2012 after suffering complications from surgery.

While many questioned whether Moore would return to coaching following the loss of her husband, Moore never considered otherwise. "This is how God uses me to serve others," said the coach. Not only did she return, baby at her side, but her team went on to win the NAIA National Championship.

On November 9, 2013, Moore's story of tragedy turned to triumph was recognized when she was presented with a Musial Award by the St. Louis Sports Commission. The award was made all the sweeter because her husband's family, who lived in the St. Louis area, was able to attend the presentation of the All That's Right in Sports Award.

On April 6, 2014, the United States Basketball Writers Association, honored Moore with the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award. According to the USBWA, "The award stands for inspiration, hope and an undeniable spirit to persevere."