God's Game Plan for a Coach
From the Archives: Summer 2013
Written By: Josh Anderson
Jerry and Margaret Moore reminisce on 24 years of faith and football in the High Country.
An unassuming stone walk sweeps left through the yard, waiting for the perfect moment to cut up field towards pay dirt—a charming home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lining up as the single-set back in this front yard formation is a statuesque football player made of clay, with feet to match.
Every yard of this battle between landscape and land is fought over in front of an adoring porch proudly displaying a sign that proclaims, “National Champions, 2005, 2006, 2007.”
This is home to one of the most respected and revered head coaches in the High Country, if not throughout all of college football. It also reflects the gentle hospitality of a wife who has loyally supported her husband every step of the way. Jerry and Margaret Moore have lived like this for the past 24 years, humbly serving God and the High Country.
It would only make sense that Coach Moore, as he is still lovingly referred to, had lost track of time when we arrived for our interview. Not because he’s absent-minded, but because he was busy working to untangle a lure from his fishing net.
Jerry has a lot more time for his favorite hobby since leaving Appalachian State University in 2012. During his tenure, he was too busy piling up more than 200 wins, three NCAA Division 1-AA national championships, and earning a victory against the Michigan Wolverines in 2007 that is considered by many to be the biggest upset in college football history.
The departure from ASU was not easy for Jerry, his players, or the community. But that hasn’t tackled him for a loss. He believes strongly that God led him to accept the head-coaching job back in 1989. He and Margaret moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Boone, North Carolina, and he’s never looked back.
“We prayed about it and had no hesitations,” Jerry says.
His wife Margaret went on to elaborate about the eventual outcome of their decision, one that seemed like a huge leap of faith at the time.
“Looking back on it, we have no regrets,” she says. “This journey has been an adventure, and one that we’ve been able to share with our friends here in this amazing community.”
“God surrounded us with the right people,” Jerry points out.
There is No “I” in Team
When Jerry and Margaret first moved to Boone, they didn’t know where God was taking them. They had just spent the past year in Arkansas, where Jerry served as a volunteer coach on Ken Hatfield’s staff. He enjoyed being part of a respected Division 1-A football program like the Razorbacks, and the thrill of winning the Southwest Conference Championship that year.
Margaret had gladly gotten back into teaching to help out financially. She loved being in the classroom again, and she also knew how important it was for her husband to be coaching again. Being in Arkansas was not only professionally gratifying, but it also was spiritually enriching.
“I will forever love that coaching staff and their families,” Margaret says. “They were all believers. They took us in and loved us back to life.”
But Jerry wanted to be a college head coach again, something he had been able to do in his home state of Texas, both at North Texas and Texas Tech. That’s when Appalachian State called. And like the wide receiver he used to be at Baylor University, Coach Moore grabbed the opportunity with both hands and ran with it.
“I honestly felt as if this was my last chance in coaching,” Jerry says. “Little did I know how things would turn out here.’”
It was then the Moores knew they needed to faithfully trust the Lord, His plans, and His timing in particular. Jerry and Margaret also realized they needed to rely on one another if this move was going to work.
“God restored our Christian lifestyle and reminded us how sovereign He is,” Margaret says. “This was indeed His plan for us.”
Jerry was introduced as Appalachian State’s head football coach in 1989, and Margaret returned to the classroom, this time as a fifth grade teacher in Blowing Rock. Jerry is quick to point out that his wife is a great teacher and has always been an important part of his coaching staff.
“Whenever I say “I,” it’s really “we.” It was “we” from day one,” Jerry says. “She has always had great relationships with all the coaches, the players, and families.”
One of the ways Margaret fostered these relationships was through fellowship. And what better way than with food? Several years ago, she and the other coaches’ wives hosted a barbecue the first four home games of the season, at the Moores’ house, inviting the families of players by class level. Eventually she scaled back to one cookout a year for all players and coaches—with more than 100 turning the Moore’s home into a fellowship hall.
“They were always my boys,” Margaret says fondly.
“We Just Lived It”
For Jerry, success at Appalachian State was measured by the results of the players who came through his program, not by the accolades amassed over nearly two-and-a-half decades with him as head coach.
“There are all the awards, trophies, and newspaper clippings from what we did on the field,” he says. “But the real reward was seeing how the players turned out as men.”
Jerry goes on to talk about how before the 2012 season, one of the most highly recruited players of his tenure, Rod Chisholm, asked him if they could pray after every practice.
“I told him that this was their team,” Jerry says, “and whatever they wanted to do, I would support them.”
“So eventually other kids, whether they were starters or not, would start praying. My throat would hurt listening to them stumble through their sincere and thoughtful prayers, and my eyes would start to sweat.”
Though Jerry admits that faith was not usually something he expressed in words, he tried to show his love for God through example instead.
“We had a God-living, God-fearing team,” Jerry says. “We didn’t preach it, we just lived it.”
The Next Play
Both Jerry and Margaret are uncertain of what the future holds for them.
On the days he’s not knee-deep in waders, Jerry busies himself with a variety of speaking engagements, something he has more time for throughout the year now. He’s also served as a consultant for several college coaches around the country, assessing practices and sharing his insights about football. But Xs and Os are still in his blood, and he hopes to be a coach again soon.
Margaret, on the other hand, has retired from teaching. She’s now a full-time grandmother and involves herself in a variety of activities and events around the community. And of course, she fully supports her husband’s aspirations of returning to the profession he dearly loves.
Still, this time away from coaching has reaffirmed the Moores’ love for God, the community, and each other.
“I believe in three things: the Bible, Mom and Dad, and ‘Coach Said,’” Jerry says. “But I’ve also come to believe that this community is truly special. Wherever you go, someone cares.”
Margaret is the first to agree. “Our time here has been such a blessing,” she says. “It’s strengthened our faith, and it’s helped us trust in the Lord. This is our home, and will remain our home. It’s a special place where people help people.”
The Moores believe God is drawing up a game plan for their future, and though the next play hasn’t been called yet, Jerry and Margaret feel confident they know what to do when it is: Do whatever Coach says.
