Harvard is among only a select few non-HBCU colleges and universities whose women’s and men’s basketball teams are both led by Black head coaches: Tommy Amaker (19 seasons) and Carrie Moore, now in her fifth season.
“I do think it’s significant at a university with the history that Harvard has,” Moore told MSR after her team’s game at Minnesota Nov. 2, the season opener for both squads. She is the first of three Black female head coaches on Minnesota’s schedule this season who will stand on the sidelines at The Barn. “I take great pride in doing what I do, especially representing who I am as a Black female and my family, and all it takes to get to this point.”
Hired in 2022, Moore in her first head coaching opportunity has led Harvard to historic heights: a program-best 24 wins, its first Ivy League Tournament championship and its first NCAA Tournament berth in 18 years, all in just her third season at the helm. Last season, Harvard (20-12, 10-4 Ivy) posted its third 20-win season in four years, reached the league championship game and advanced to the WBIT quarterfinals.
Moore had a standout playing career at Western Michigan, where she scored a school-record 2,216 points, led the nation in scoring (25.4 ppg) and was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 2006-07. She then tried out for a couple of WNBA clubs before playing overseas for a year in Poland.
Before Harvard, Moore held assistant coaching roles at Michigan, North Carolina, Princeton and Creighton, a post-playing journey she said she didn’t originally envision: “I can’t say that I always knew I wanted to coach,” recalled the veteran coach. “I just wanted to be around the game, and I knew I love playing basketball as well.
“When I decided not to play anymore, this was an opportunity at Princeton that came about. I went on a whim and ended up being a great opportunity for me, and learned a lot. It kept me around the game … I haven’t blinked an eye from that moment on,” she reiterated.
The Crimson lost to host Minnesota 82-62 on Election Eve. The visitors were down only a basket after three quarters before the contest got away from them.
Although disappointed with the final result, a feeling shared with her players, Moore said she told them that the season is a long one, and that was only one game at that point.
“There were glimpses of us playing up to the level we can play to this year, but the fourth quarter was not where we need to be,” reported Moore, whose club is picked to finish third in the Ivy League this season. “The league is one of the best in the country,” she bragged. “I expect us to be there at the end of the year. It’s a fun league to be a part of.”
Moore also expressed her gratitude to Harvard Athletics Director Erin McDermott for having the foresight to see her as the right coach to lead the women’s basketball program. “Great shoutout to McDermott on her wanting me to be at Harvard and thinking that I was the best one for the job.
“I think so often we (Black women) get overlooked. You got to be exceptional in every area and she (McDermott) allows me to be me: fiery and competitive. Push our players but also love on them.
“I hope I can continue to hold the doors for other Black females, whether that’s players and coaches at Harvard to do what they do at a high level.”
Finally, Moore also appreciates having the veteran Amaker as a fellow Crimson coach.
“I’ve learned so much from Tommy and he welcomed me with open arms and takes me under his wing. He’s got wisdom for years. I’m always listening to what he has to say,” surmised the school’s women’s coach.
Crutchfield’s Omaha squad aims high in Summit League
Chris Crutchfield is the only Black head coach from a predominantly white institution (PWI) whose team played at Minnesota this season. His Omaha men’s team lost to the Gophers 72-52 in an Oct. 15 exhibition contest.
Crutchfield told MSR afterward that the contest will ultimately help prepare his Mavericks for Summit League play later this season. St. Thomas also is in the league, where Omaha is picked to finish fourth.
“I never put any stock with that,” he pointed out. “I think we would be one of the biggest and most athletic teams in our league. That should put us in the top two or three.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
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