Scott Moore is set to begin his seventh season as the head coach of the storied Grace's men's basketball program. This will mark his 14th season as a coach at Grace, serving as an assistant coach for seven years under legendary head coach Jim Kessler before Kessler's retirement in 2019.
Moore has quickly transformed the Lancers into an elite program in the NAIA. In just his first few seasons, he has been named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year three times (2020, 2023, 2024) and the NCCAA National Coach of the Year three times (2022, 2024, 2025) and the NABC-NAIA National Coach of the Year (2024).
The Lancers enjoyed arguably their finest season ever in 2023-24. Grace was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country for much of the 2023-24 season. The Lancers won the regular season and postseason championships in the Crossroads League and were the overall No. 1 seed in the NAIA tournament.
Grace then enjoyed its deepest run in the NAIA Div. I tournament era, reaching the Final Four. The Lancers set team records in 2023-24 for longest winning streak (24), most games won (34), best winning percentage (.944, 34-2), least games lost (2), most assists (750) and second-best field goal percentage (.527). Moore led Elijah Malone to become Grace's first NAIA National Player of the Year and the Bevo Francis Player of the Year (top college player across D2, D3, NAIA and junior colleges).
Despite graduating most of its starters, Moore guided the Lancers to another successful season in 2024-25. The Lancers repeated as champions of the Crossroads League, in both the regular season and the postseason tournament. Grace advanced to the NAIA Elite Eight and racked up three All-American honors. Ian Scott was runner-up for the NAIA National Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Bevo Francis Award and the Trevor Hudgins Award.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Grace enjoyed a storybook season. The Lancers won the regular season and postseason tournament for the Crossroads League, cutting down the nets at home in a thrilling tournament championship win over Huntington. Grace then cut down the nets again one week later after winning its NAIA First/Second Round pod -- it marked the first time that Grace was selected to host part of the NAIA tournament for basketball in school history. Grace finished the season with a sterling 31-4 record and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NAIA tournament. Two players earned NCCAA First Team All-American honors (Frankie Davidson, Elijah Malone) as well as one NAIA Second Team All-American (Malone).
Moore's Lancers took the Crossroads League by storm in his first season in 2019-20. Grace was picked to finish eighth in the league standings prior to the season. The Lancers went on to shatter expectations, going 19-12 and finishing third in the league standings. Grace clinched a spot in the NAIA National Championships (which was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Moore was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year after his incredible first season, and two players (Haden Deaton, Charlie Warner) earned All-American recognition.
During the 2021-22 season, the Lancers excelled with a young squad. A team almost entirely comprised of underclassmen won the 2022 Crossroads League Tournament for the first time since 2012. Grace won all three games on the road, including Mt. Vernon Nazarene, No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 12 Marian. They became the lowest seed (No. 5) to win the CL Tournament in conference history. They then advanced to the NAIA Sweet Sixteen, marking the deepest run for the team since 2013. Grace's 27 wins were the most for the program since 1991-92. One of Moore's recruits (Frankie Davidson) was named the NCCAA National Player of the Year at the end of the season, and Moore was named the NCCAA National Coach of the Year.
The Lancers experienced tremendous success with Moore as an assistant as well. Grace won 20 games in four of Moore's season as an assistant coach. Additionally, the Lancers have been named an NAIA Scholar-Team every year (3.0 team GPA), including a multiple seasons as the top GPA in the Crossroads League.
Moore graduated from Columbia City High School, where he played basketball and tennis. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Grace in 2008 and finished his Master’s degree in physical education from Ball State University.
Moore played from 2004-08 on the Lancers’ basketball squad, ending his career No. 6 all-time in career assists. During his senior season, Moore’s Lancers finished 26-10 and made a run to the Elite Eight round of the NAIA National Championships.
His first year as an assistant coach for the Lancers’ basketball team in 2012-13 was a successful one. The Lancers advanced to the 2013 NAIA national semifinals – the second-longest run in the tournament in program history. In 2013-14 the Lancers advanced to the NCCAA Div. I national championship game. The Lancers reached the "Sweet Sixteen" round of the NAIA tournament in 2014-15 and finished third at the 2016 NCCAA National Championships.
For three years, Moore served as the head assistant coach at Mount Vernon Nazarene University under his brother, Matt Moore. During his short time at MVNU, Moore recruited two Top 40 players from Indiana, an All-State player from Michigan, as well as a number of Ohio All-State performers.
Moore helped develop a pair of 1,000-point scorers with the Cougars and was in charge of the offense and player development. During the 2010-11 campaign, MVNU ranked No. 6 in the NAIA for field goal percentage (48.4) and No. 12 for 3-point percentage (37.9).
After graduating from Grace, Moore decided to play professional basketball in Perth, Australia, for the Wanneroo Wolves of the State Basketball League. Alongside his twin brother Marcus, the Moore brothers led the Wolves to their best record in franchise history at the time. Scott ranked first in the league in steals and third in assists.
Outside of Australia, Moore has traveled and played basketball in numerous countries including China, New Zealand, Belize and Mexico.
Moore also experienced tremendous success as the head coach of Grace's women's tennis team for four years (2013-16). He climaxed in his final season, winning the 2016 Crossroads League Coach of the Year award after leading the Lady Lancers to an 11-5 record. That mark tied the mark for most wins in a season in program history at the time.
Moore got married in the summer of 2013 to his wife Bridget. The couple have two sons (Charlie, Hayes).
