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Kirby Moore hired as WSU’s next head football coach

The Washington State Cougars have found a new coach in Kirby Moore, who served as offensive coordinator at both Missouri and Fresno State.   (Tribune News Service)
By Greg Woods gregw@spokesman.com(509) 459-5587

PULLMAN — Washington State has its man.

The Cougars are hiring Kirby Moore as their next head football coach, the program announced Friday afternoon, ushering in a new era of WSU football. A first-time head coach, Moore comes from Missouri, where he worked as offensive coordinator for each of the past three years.

“I’m honored and excited to join Washington State University as its new head football coach,” Moore said via release. “Becoming a first-time head coach at a special place like Washington State is a dream come true for my family and I. I want to thank President Cantwell and Jon Haarlow for the opportunity to return home and continue the proud tradition of Cougar football. The future of our program is bright. I look forward to leading this team and making our state proud.”

Moore replaces former coach Jimmy Rogers, who left for Iowa State last week after one 6-6 stint with WSU.

Moore’s introductory press conference is set for Tuesday, per release. Start time has yet to be determined.

A native of Prosser, which is about 170 miles from Pullman, Moore played wide receiver for Boise State from 2009-2013, then started his coaching career in 2014 working with the receivers at College of Idaho, which had just revived its football program. Moore then spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons at Washington, working as a graduate assistant and offensive assistant under head coach Chris Petersen.

Moore then spent the next six seasons at Fresno State, coaching wide receivers from 2017-19, adding passing game coordinator duties from 2020-21, then serving as offensive coordinator for the 2022 season. He was hired at Missouri in January 2023.

This fall, Missouri finished 8-4 and earned a berth in the Gator Bowl, facing Virginia on Dec. 27. The Tigers’ offense finished No. 27 nationally in total offense, averaging 429 yards per game, including No. 32 in scoring offense, averaging a shade over 32 points per game. In the SEC, both figures ranked No. 6.

It’s unclear when Moore will take over in Pullman. Last week, after Rogers decamped for Iowa State, defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit was named interim head coach, though he’s been linked to the same job at ISU. The Cougars’ current set of assistants are expected to coach in WSU’s bowl game, which is the Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State, on Dec. 22 in Boise.

Kirby’s brother Kellen, currently the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, played quarterback for the Broncos from 2007-2011.