Moore replaces Ken Nellis who announced in March he was stepping down as head coach.
Teague Moore"I am excited to announce that Teague Moore has accepted the position as head wrestling coach at Clarion," said athletic director Dave Katis. "We feel Teague possesses all the attributes we were looking for in a head coach," he continued. "He has a dynamic personality, is highly respected in wrestling circles, will be an outstanding recruiter, is committed to graduating student-athletes and is motivated to be the best. The Clarion wrestling tradition is in good hands with Teague Moore."
Moore becomes only the fifth head coach at Clarion since 1960. Frank Lignelli re-started the wrestling program in the Fall of 1959 and coached through 1966. Bob Bubb elevated the program to elite NCAA Division I status as head coach from 1967- 92, while Jack Davis mentored from 1993-97 and Nellis from 1998-2006.
"It is very humbling to be named the new head wrestling coach at Clarion University," said Moore. "To be named the leader at one of college wrestling's most decorated traditions is an unbelievable honor. I want to thank President Grunenwald, Dave Katis and the search committee for their trust and belief in my abilities. I also want the entire Clarion wrestling family to know that I will dedicated myself and do everything I can to restore the program to be amongst the nation's elite. To be the best at anything one must be willing to sacrifice and persevere. The alumni of Clarion have done that. They have proven that Conference, National, World and Olympic Titles can be earned here. It is time for Clarion to revitalize that level of commitment and that level of success."
Moore knows the Clarion University campus and the area community pretty well, since he regularly attended the Summer wrestling camps at Clarion that were run at that time by coach Bubb. "I spent many weekends and Summers learning the sport of wrestling right here at Tippin Gymnasium from coach Bubb and his staff," said Moore. "They were great camps. Clarion's system allowed me to attain State and National titles because of what I learned while on this campus. As head coach and camp director I hope to be able to bring the next generation of wrestling champions to our campus so that they can experience and learn as I did. Armed with this knowledge they too will have an opportunity to represent their program, state and nation in our great sport."
At North Allegheny High School Teague was a three-time PIAA placewinner including a runner-up in 1993, a third pace ending in 1994 and State Champion in 1995. He also was a three-time Pennsylvania State Freestyle Champion (1993-95), a three-time Junior National Freestyle Champion (1993, 94, 95) and National High School Champion in 1995.
Heading to Oklahoma State to wrestle under coach John Smith, Teague was a four-year starter at 118-pounds for the Cowboys. A 4-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier, he was a three-time Division I All-American (1997-99), including an NCAA National Championship in 1998. He pinned Michigan State's Dave Morgan in the finals to win his title. He also placed third at nationals in 1999 and 4th in 1997. Teague was a Big 12 Champion in 1997 and 98 and runner-up in 1999. He posted a career record of 118-25 and was 15th in career wins at Oklahoma State at that time.
Following graduation in 1999, Teague coached at Pitt, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Harvard prior to coming to Clarion. He also used that time to follow his Olympic dreams. Placing third at the US Olympic Trials in 2000, he won the US Open National Championship at 55KG in 2002, was a national team member and runner-up at the World Team Trials. In 2003 he was a National Team Member, was a Silver Medalist at the World Cup and placed third at the World Team Trials and the US Open Nationals. A National Team member in 2004, Teague placed third at the US Olympic Trials and at the US Open.
Wrestling internationally, he was University World Champion (@ Tokyo, Japan) in 2000, Manitoba Open Champion in 2001, Yasar Dogu Champion (Ankara, Turkey) in 2002, Manitoba Champion again in 2004 and second at the Ulan Ude, Russian International Open, among others.
"We are delighted to welcome Teague Moore as our next head wrestling coach, said Clarion President Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald. "His distinguished competitive career and his significant experience as a coach provide strong evidence of his knowledge and approach to wrestling. More importantly, coach Moore is a person of strong character who is committed to the academic performance of his athletes. He will serve as an excellent role model to our wrestlers. We welcome him to the Clarion family and know he will work very hard to re-establish Clarion as a top Division I wrestling power."
Teague and wife Mary Alice have a daughter Talen Josephina. He is the son of Patricia J. Moore and the late John J. Moore of Pittsburgh. He has three brothers Tim, Terry and Ty, two sisters Colleen and Tina, and one brother Tom who is deceased.
Teague Moore has always had an abiding respect and admiration for former Clarion head coach Bob Bubb. "Coach Bob Bubb built a tradition that only a few men have achieved in our great sport," reflected Moore. "He was a man dedicated to building men of integrity, men of character and men of action. His record stands among the nations elite and he has been rightly honored by being inducted into the NWCA Wrestling Hall of Fame last Summer. I hope to follow and build upon the qualities that such a great man like Coach Bubb was dedicated to. Coach Bubb and all of the great men who have led Clarion have built a tradition and family that I am now a part of. I hope to honor him and these men by doing things the right way for the right reasons and bring Clarion wrestling back to national prominence."
CLARION NOTES: Teague Moore becomes only the fifth coach at Clarion since 1960… The Golden Eagles are 473-256-12 over that time … Lignelli was the coach from 1960-66 with a record of 61-12... He passed the torch to Bob Bubb, who from 1966-92, put Clarion wrestling on the national stage... Bubb had a career record of 322-121-4 ... Bubb led Clarion to a 4th place team finish at D-I nationals in 1973, sixth in 1972 and 87 and eighth in 1992, his final season... Bubb coached 7 D-I champions, 3 college division champs, 27 All-Americans, 29 EWL winners and 68 PSAC champs ... Bubb will be remembered for two special athletes, namely Wade Schalles and Kurt Angle... Both were named to the NCAA/NWCA 75th Anniversary Team last March ... Schalles had an amazing career record of 153-5-1, won 2 NCAA titles and posted an NCAA record 106 pins ... Angle also was a 2-time NCAA D-I Champion, posted a record of 116-10-2 and also won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 ... On June 4, 2005, Bubb was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma .... Jack Davis was Clarion's head coach from 1993-97 with a record of 43-34-5 and then Nellis ... Davis was also a long-time assistant at Clarion under Bubb ... He was the assistant for 17 years before becoming the head coach in 1992... Since the 1960 season Clarion has a dual meet record of 473-255-12 ... Clarion has 8 D-I National Champions, 43 All-Americans, 51 EWL winners and 106 PSAC Champions... That also includes 13 PSAC and 3 EWL team titles...
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