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Tom Moore, a key figure in UConn men's basketball for over two decades, retired last month from his role as the program's general manager. Moore, who was part of four national championship teams with the Huskies, is now looking to transition into broadcasting, aiming to stay connected to the game he loves.
Moore's journey to UConn began in October 1994, when he was coaching at Division III Worcester State. A phone call from his friend Karl Hobbs, then an assistant at UConn, presented an opening on Jim Calhoun's staff. Moore jumped at the chance, even though the pay was minimal. "Interested? I am like, I would walk from Worcester State to UConn," Moore recalled. He interviewed with Calhoun, and after a two-hour meeting, he was unsure if he had the job. But when Calhoun and assistants Howie Dickenman and Hobbs began planning practice, Moore stayed and took notes. "No one ever told me I was hired. I just showed up the next day and kept showing up."
That persistence paid off. Moore spent 21 seasons as an assistant at UConn under Calhoun and later Dan Hurley, winning national titles in 1999, 2004, 2023, and 2024. In between, he served as head coach at Quinnipiac for 10 seasons, compiling a 162-146 record with four postseason appearances and a regular-season championship. Combined with his five years at Worcester State (76-59), he won 238 games as a head coach.
After being fired by Quinnipiac in 2017, Moore rejoined Hurley at Rhode Island for one season before following him back to UConn. He transitioned into the general manager role full-time in 2024-25, after handling many GM duties previously, to help the program navigate the evolving landscape of NIL, the transfer portal, and revenue sharing. However, he found the GM position less fulfilling than coaching. "I tried to do well and tried to have some enthusiasm for it, but I quickly realized I didn't enjoy it much," Moore said. "It wasn't for me because the landscape is so different with all the dollar signs being thrown around."
Key Analysis
Moore's career is marked by adaptability and a team-first mentality. He worked under two of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, Jim Calhoun and Dan Hurley, and credits his ability to fit in and support them as key to his longevity. "For close to 30 years, I worked under two guys who are arguably two of the top 10 coaches in the history of the sport, and they were both alpha males," Moore said. "I felt like I could fit my personality around them and sort of support what they were doing by staying in the background a little bit."
At 61, Moore is content with his coaching legacy and excited about what lies ahead. He hopes to do color commentary for games at various levels and has been in contact with major networks like ESPN, NBC, FOX, and CBS. "I am trying to do some color commentating on some games: low major, mid major, Northeast, national or whatever," Moore said. "I just hope I like it and do a good enough job that they will keep giving me games."
Moore's decision to step away from the GM role was driven by a desire to escape the constant pressure of coaching and administration. He looks forward to studying teams, preparing game plans, and attending shootarounds without the nervousness that has accompanied his career for four decades. His legacy at UConn is secure, and his transition to broadcasting will allow him to remain a part of the basketball community he cherishes.
Originally reported by yahoo.