Alumnus to coach lady Seawolves
Rachael Fisher
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For the second time in three years, former Seawolf hoopster Tim Moser, 36, applied for the head coach position with UAA's women's basketball team after head coach Jody Hensen resigned March 20.
In his case twice was nice, and this time around Tim Moser will walk away with a new job. Moser will take over as the green and gold's eighth women's basketball head coach for the 2006-07 season.
In 2003, Moser withdrew before completing the application process; then Jody Hensen was selected to fill the position vacated by Brandi Dunigan.
UAA Athletics Director Steve Cobb said Moser is the first choice of the 16 applicants, and was chosen for his proven track record with previous teams and partially because of his UAA alumni status.
Moser was a reserve forward with the Seawolves for one season, 1989-1990, when the green and gold made it to the NCAA Division II tournament. After leaving UAA he attended the University of Southern Colorado where he received his bachelor's degree in social science.
"(It) probably subconsciously (gave) him a leg up, but I'd still say that was a bonus - not really a major factor in it," Cobb said.
However, the Denver native said it played a big factor in his decision to reapply.
"I really had a great time there," Moser said. "I had a great year. I wish I had spent four there. That was probably the most important thing."
Cobb said Moser's academic success impressed him the most, and he expects the team to follow the success of Moser's teams in Colorado.
"We are looking for some persistence from our student-athletes academically and we would like to see him get the Seawolves in contention for the conference title," Cobb said.
During the eight years Moser was head coach at Otero Colorado Junior College, his teams earned 15 Academic All-American and 52 Academic All-Region honors.
Both the Otero Junior College men's and women's teams were coached by Moser for six of the last eight years.
Moser earned boasting rights to more than just academic honors. He will leave Otero Junior College with nine conference coach-of-the-year awards and a winning percentage of 74 percent.
During his time at Otero Junior College, his record as the women's coach was 137-41. Moser's women's teams took five consecutive conference titles (1998-2002).
He coached only the men's team for his last two seasons at the school. During his tenure with the men, his record was 172-68. The men's teams won four league titles under Moser's guidance.
Cobb said the transition should not affect next year's roster, and all of the players are expected to return.
"I think they will play an exciting brand of basketball and I think there will be some renewed interest in our women's basketball, program," Cobb said.
Moser said his expectations are simple, and he wants a confident and happy team that can serve as positive role models for UAA next year.
"I want to try to win a championship, but our goal is just to be the best that we can be really," Moser said. "They are Seawolf athletes, so they better act appropriately in the classroom and in the community."
Moser said he also relishes the role of teaching his players. He said he enjoys helping young people to exceed and sees the basketball court as an extension of the time spent in class.
The players helped to handpick Moser after UAA athletics administration chose to include them in the selection process.
"I am excited. I was really impressed with all of them," Moser said. "I want to be a family with those girls."
Moser will be choosing the assistant coach to replace the vacant seat left by Katie Kern, but Moser said his first focus is recruiting.