Coug Nation Welcomes Kirby Moore: A Hometown Hire with Big Expectations
Kirby Moore may be new to the head coach’s seat at Washington State, but if Thursday night at The Swinging Doors in Spokane was any indication, he’s already winning where it matters most - with the fans.
The 35-year-old Moore, a Prosser native with deep roots in Eastern Washington football, spent over an hour working the room at the north Spokane sports bar, shaking hands, answering questions, and posing for selfies with a sea of crimson-and-gray-clad Coug faithful. He didn’t have a drink in hand, but the energy in the room was buzzing like a post-Apple Cup celebration.
Moore’s visit was more than just a meet-and-greet - it was a statement. A message to the fanbase that he’s not just here to coach football. He’s here to connect, to build, and to lead a program that’s looking for both stability and a spark.
“With their support, and a lot of fans who care, there’s a lot of direction right now with the program, and so we’re excited about this upcoming season,” Moore said.
And that direction? It starts with culture.
Moore knows the region - he’s lived it. He remembers watching games at the old Joe Albi Stadium.
He’s played in Hoopfest. He’s not just another coach passing through; he’s one of them.
That hometown familiarity resonated with fans like Karyn and Gary Teague, WSU alums from the late ’70s and early ’80s. Gary, a former Cougar football player himself, took the opportunity to talk to Moore about what makes Pullman special - and why that matters in today’s college football landscape.
“We can’t compete with the money elsewhere,” Gary said. “You’ve got to have culture, you’ve got to have the ability to recruit both mom and dad plus the kids, and do what we can with all of that.”
That’s the challenge facing Moore - building a winning program in a town that doesn’t have the deep pockets of some of its Power 5 peers. But if you ask the fans, that’s also Pullman’s secret weapon.
The community, the passion, the pride - it’s not just noise on game day. It’s the foundation.
And Moore’s local ties only strengthen that bond. For fans like Dennis Gunnels (raised in Malden) and Byron Henry (from Rosalia), Moore’s Eastern Washington roots aren’t just a fun fact - they’re a badge of honor.
“The guy’s from Eastern Washington,” Gunnels said. “He’s like our God.”
“It doesn’t get more hometown than that,” Henry added.
The excitement wasn’t limited to longtime fans, either. Even the youngest Cougs in the room were starstruck.
Brothers AJ and Alex Espindola, ages 9 and 6, beamed after Moore signed their hats, jerseys, and WSU flags. Their dad grew up in Wapato, not far from where Moore’s family football legacy was forged.
“I’m excited that he’s my coach because I’m just excited,” AJ said, already dreaming of framing his autographed gear or bringing it to games to collect more signatures.
And yes, AJ has his sights set on some hardware.
“I think with a coach like Kirby Moore, we could improve and bring, I don’t care what trophy, some sort of trophy back to Washington,” he said. “Just like the Seahawks did.”
That kind of energy - pure, unfiltered belief - was everywhere at The Swinging Doors. The parking lot was packed, Coug gear was everywhere, and the atmosphere felt more like a tailgate than a casual Thursday night.
But as much as fans were excited, they were also realistic. They’ve seen coaches come and go.
They’ve endured the ups and downs. This time, they’re hoping for something lasting.
“We just hope that he has a very successful season, and that he builds a program like we haven’t seen in the last 15, 20 years,” said Gunnels.
Moore’s resume gives fans reason to believe. He’s young, but he’s been around high-level football his whole life. And more importantly, those who’ve followed him - players, coaches, staff - seem to believe in what he’s building.
“The folks that follow him, they don’t follow if they don’t feel confident and feel like they can believe in building something,” said Gary Teague. “I just like the momentum he’s created.”
Still, there’s one question Coug fans couldn’t resist asking: is Moore here for the long haul?
“We asked him if he was going to stay more than a year or two,” said Sheryl Henry, laughing with friends at a table of die-hard Cougs.
“He just shook her hand and moved on,” added Wendy Gunnels. “But he didn’t say no.”
It was a classic coach move - sidestep the question, keep the focus on the now. And right now, Moore is doing all the right things. He’s engaging the fanbase, embracing the culture, and putting in the work to lay the foundation for something bigger.
Time will tell how the wins stack up. But on a chilly February night in Spokane, Kirby Moore didn’t need a scoreboard to show he was off to a strong start.