GALT, CA (MPG) - Jared Moore thought he had retired from coaching, that is, until the Galt coaching position opened up. What follows is an interview with Moore.

 What coaching positions have you held in the past? 

 I started coaching in Galt’s city league (rec ball) and discovered that my daughter had a passion for the game of basketball. I wanted to nurture my daughter's passion and had a discussion with GTown founder George Ogos about starting a female basketball division under his AAU umbrella that he had already established. At some point, George reached out to Karrin Blevins who really provided the energy to begin the girls’ division. Her and I began coaching at GTown together for the last four years.  I resigned from the program once my daughter had aged out.

 I have also coached McCaffrey’s girls’ team for two years, and the boys’ team for one year. 

 Where did you gain your skills and love of the game?

 My greatest basketball experience came while I was enlisted in the United States Army. I made the Army team (southwest) and had the opportunity to play with/and against men from all over the country. We primarily played in the southwest against other military bases, but also junior colleges for their pre-season games. It is definitely a different route for basketball, but the coach really helped to bring me along as a fundamental player and I count that experience as critical to the coaching I am doing now.  

How did the Galt coaching position fall into your lap?

It was a strange set of circumstances, but I met with the current principal of Galt High, Kellie Beck.  I had coached her son at McCaffrey (Bowden Beck), and she encouraged me to throw my name out there for consideration. In addition, Karrin Blevins has a passion for female sports, and she was also encouraging me to apply for the position.  Karrin did not want to see the girls’ basketball program at GHS dissolve for a lack of finding a head coach, and her support for me to apply was important to me. Finally, my own daughter was entering GHS and the thought of her not being able to play high school basketball was not a pleasant one. The combination of Kellie, Karrin, my wife Jessie (who also encouraged me), and my daughter won me over and I applied for the position. 

Can you share a little bit on your motivations and priorities? 

 I would like to see the Galt High girls’ basketball program become successful again. To do that means a lot of practice time teaching fundamentals and increasing the basketball IQ of both squads. Ultimately, I want the girls to love the game of basketball, feel like they are contributing in a positive way to the team/program, and enjoy success by achieving a winning record, or even the playoffs. 

What do you hope the ladies will learn from you?

 That the journey to becoming a winning player, team, and program starts with desire and dedication. The desire to want to succeed and do better, and the dedication to put in the work at practice. It may be cliche, but I believe sports can have a profound effect on one’s life and how they carry themselves in the future.  And ... maybe they will look back on their high school basketball experience with fondness and support their own children to continuing the tradition of playing high school sports.    

What do you want people to know about you?

There was not a time in my past that I thought I would be a high school coach. I am very humbled that I have been selected as the GHS Varsity girls’ basketball coach. It is a position, and title, I take seriously.  I will work hard to honor the support I was given by those who selected me. I will also honor the parents who are allowing me to coach their daughters, and I will honor the players themselves for allowing me to coach them. My goal is to make the girls basketball program at GHS a success. 

So here is my recruiting pitch. ... if you have a daughter, like mine, who has a passion for basketball, and she will be attending Galt High in the future, have her tryout for the basketball team.  The program is on the path back to success, and I want as many skilled players as possible, on that Warrior train.  Let’s go...!