Washington State hires Missouri OC Kirby Moore as coach

Field Level Media|published: Fri 12th December, 19:36 2025

Jan 7, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers football team new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kirby Moore answers questions from reporters before the basketball game against the Vanderbilt Commodores Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Washington State finalized a deal to hire Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore as its new head coach on Friday, agreeing to a five-year contract.

Moore, 35, spent the past three seasons with Missouri. He will be taking over a program that is entering a new era in the rebuilt Pac-12.

Moore is the younger brother of New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore. Kirby Moore played at Boise State (2009-13) with his brother, who went 50-3 as a college starting quarterback.

Moore is from Prosser, Wash., located 167 miles from Pullman.

"I'm honored and excited to join Washington State University as its new head football coach," Moore said in a news 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 (Elizabeth) 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!

"Our commitment to excellence will be evident on the field and in the community, while competing for championships. We can't wait to get on the Palouse and get to work. Go Cougs!"

Finding stability was essential to Haarlow, the athletic director, and he believes he found it with the hiring of Moore.

"Kirby Moore is regarded as one of the top young coaches in college football with proven success throughout multiple levels of his coaching career," Haarlow said. "He has an innovative offensive mind and a team-oriented approach that will resonate with and elevate our student-athletes. Throughout the process, his energy and commitment to wholistically developing our student-athletes, on the field and off, along with his ties to eastern Washington and familiarity with Washington State University make him the right leader for Cougar Football."

Moore replaces Jimmy Rogers, who went 6-6 in one season with the Cougars before recently leaving to become the Iowa State head coach.

Moore began his coaching career at the College of Idaho in 2014. Among other stints, Moore served under Chris Petersen (his coach at Boise State) at Washington and now-Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer at Fresno State.

--Field Level Media