Washington State Bets on Kirby Moore to Steady the Ship - and Lead the Charge in a New-Look Pac-12
Kirby Moore was introduced Tuesday as the 36th head coach in Washington State football history, but here’s the number that really jumps off the page: five. When Moore leads the Cougars into the Apple Cup for his debut next season, he’ll be the program’s fifth head coach in just seven years.
That kind of turnover would be tough for any program. For one navigating financial limitations, geographic isolation, and the chaos of conference realignment?
It’s a mountain. So it’s no surprise that when WSU went searching for its next leader, stability became the north star.
And in Moore, they believe they’ve found a long-term answer - not just a coach, but a connection to the program’s roots.
Moore’s story fits the mold of a homegrown rebuild. A native of Prosser, Washington, he grew up watching Cougar football from the stands. Now, he’ll be the one pacing the sideline, headset on, tasked with guiding a program through one of the most pivotal stretches in its history.
Still, the hire raises an important question: did Washington State lean too heavily on loyalty and regional ties by hiring a first-time head coach?
There’s no denying Moore brings a compelling résumé to Pullman. He’s been immersed in football his entire life - the son and brother of coaches, with deep ties across the Pacific Northwest. That network could be invaluable in uncovering under-the-radar talent, especially in a recruiting landscape that increasingly rewards relationships and local trust.
At 35, Moore is young enough to relate to players navigating the modern world of NIL deals and the ever-spinning transfer portal. That relatability matters more than ever.
Today’s head coach has to be part tactician, part recruiter, and part CEO. Moore’s offensive background checks one of those boxes in bold ink.
He’s spent time under some of the most respected minds in the game - Chris Petersen at Boise State, Jeff Tedford and Kalen DeBoer at Fresno State, and most recently Eli Drinkwitz at Missouri, where Moore served as offensive coordinator.
Add to that the backing of WSU president Elizabeth Cantwell, who has made it clear she sees football as a key driver of the university’s brand and visibility, and you’ve got a program that’s not just hoping Moore works - they’re invested in making sure he does.
Interestingly, Moore’s situation mirrors that of JaMarcus Shephard at Oregon State. Like Moore, Shephard is a rookie head coach with Pacific Northwest roots, an offensive pedigree, and ties to the DeBoer coaching tree. And like Moore, he’ll be stepping into a pressure cooker.
When the reimagined Pac-12 kicks off next fall, Moore and Shephard will be the only first-time head coaches in the league. That’s notable, considering the rest of the conference has leaned heavily on experienced hires.
San Diego State brought in Sean Lewis. Utah State landed Bronco Mendenhall.
Jim Mora is now at Colorado State. Matt Entz takes over at Fresno State.
Even Boise State and Texas State - programs with their own unique challenges - are led by coaches with experience at the top.
So while WSU and OSU are betting on potential, they’ll be doing so in a league where six other programs are led by coaches with decades of combined experience and hundreds of wins under their belts. And that’s just within the conference.
Factor in the College Football Playoff race, and the stakes get even higher. The highest-ranked champion from outside the Power Four gets an automatic ticket to the CFP. That means the Cougars and Beavers aren’t just battling each other or their conference rivals - they’re also in a race with programs like Memphis, Tulane, South Florida, North Texas, and James Madison.
And those schools haven’t been sitting still. Memphis, James Madison, and North Texas all went with veteran hires.
Tulane promoted from within to maintain continuity. South Florida made a splash by bringing in one of the country’s top recruiters in Ohio State OC Brian Hartline.
The competition for that coveted playoff spot is fierce, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
For Moore and Shephard, the opportunity is massive. But so is the risk.
As Moore said during his introductory press conference, this is “an incredible opportunity to be a leader” in the new Pac-12. The chance is there to establish a new identity, win games, and make the College Football Playoff a realistic goal - not just a dream. But the path is narrow, and it requires more than just good coaching.
University support - both in terms of revenue sharing and NIL funding - will be crucial. Identifying talent is only part of the equation.
Acquiring and keeping that talent is the real game. Without the resources to compete in today’s arms race, even the brightest coaching minds can only do so much.
Moore could be the next Chris Petersen. Shephard could follow in DeBoer’s footsteps.
But without the right players, those comparisons will remain hypothetical.
And time is not on their side.
If WSU and OSU stumble out of the gate, if the incoming schools in the Pac-12 seize early control, the window to catch up could slam shut. College football is evolving at warp speed.
Since Mike Leach left Pullman in 2020, the sport has undergone a seismic shift - NIL, the transfer portal, conference chaos, playoff expansion. And more change is coming.
Whether it’s a super league in the 2030s or another round of SEC/Big Ten expansion, the programs that establish themselves now will be the ones with a seat at the table later.
That’s why the next four years - 2026 through 2029 - are critical. They’ll shape the pecking order of the sport’s next era. And for the Cougars and Beavers, there’s no time to waste.
They can’t afford to be rebuilding while others are rising. They can’t afford to be an afterthought in a conference trying to redefine itself. Every season that slips away is a missed opportunity - and in this climate, missed opportunities are costly.
Moore and Shephard have their work cut out for them. They’re stepping into the fire with big expectations and little room for error. But they also have the chance to lead their programs into a bold new chapter - one where tradition meets transformation, and where the right coach can make all the difference.
The clock is ticking. The opportunity is real. Now it’s up to them to seize it.