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| Page Moir leaves after having coached the final game in Roanoke College's Bast Center. It will be replaced by a new facility for next season. Roanoke athletics photo |
Page Moir, the winningest men's basketball coach in Roanoke history, announced Tuesday he is stepping down after 27 seasons at the helm of the Roanoke program to pursue other opportunities.
During his tenure in Salem, Moir led the Maroons to 428 wins which is tops among current Old Dominion Athletic Conference coaches. Moir's teams won three ODAC championships, made six trips to the NCAA Tournament and had five seasons with 20 or more wins.
"It's time," said Moir. "Carnivals end. Circuses close. Roanoke has provided me an extended honeymoon. It's been super, but now it's time. I had my moment on the stage. The trick in life is to know when to leave."
Moir was honored by his peers as the ODAC Coach of the Year in 1994 and again this past season when he led RC to its best season since 2008-09 with 19 wins and both regional and national rankings during the year. In addition, D3hoops.com named Moir the 2016 South Region Coach of the Year.
"Twenty-seven years in one place is more than enough, especially in this profession,” Moir said. “I was blessed to be surrounded by incredible student-athletes and assistant coaches. Ed Green left the program in great condition, and I am confident the next coach will feel the same with the outstanding young men I had the opportunity to coach this past season. This last group was among the best I have been around. It made this decision very difficult. But with our returnees, and the opening of the Cregger Center, Roanoke will be able to attract a great coach."
"This is a bittersweet moment for Roanoke College," said athletic director Scott Allison. "While we're happy for Page and wish him well in his pursuit of a new challenge, we recognize all that he has done for Roanoke. As men's basketball coach, Page embraced his role as an ambassador for his program, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, the game of basketball, and, most importantly, Roanoke College. And you'd be hard pressed to find a better team player. We'll miss Page dearly."
Just one of two coaches in the history of the ODAC to reach 300 wins, Moir became the all-time winningest head coach in RC history, passing Maroon Hall of Famer Ed Green in 2003. Moir notched his 400th win in 2014.
"I'm as proud of the fact that we graduated 108 student-basketball players during my 27 seasons as a head coach, as I am winning 428 basketball games," said Moir. "My guys continue to amaze me as they go on to became husbands, dads, community leaders, and enjoy success in their chosen careers."
A fixture in the basketball community, Moir was appointed to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors in 2002, becoming one of just two Division III coaches on the board. Moir was elected president of the NABC and served from 2014-15 in that role.
The Maroon basketball program is just as successful in its community involvement. The entire team has volunteered with the Virginia Special Olympics and assisted the Roanoke City School System with their Extended Day Program. His teams have participated in Big Brothers, Big Sisters over the year. The Maroons have also been involved in "Dream to Read" program and attended "Career Day" at Andrew Lewis Middle School.
In his time as head coach, Moir has involved the Roanoke basketball program in several charitable organizations. The V-Foundation Classic has raised more than $80,000 for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society and the V-Foundation.
Moir is a product of one of the great family coaching stories. His father, Charles Moir, coached at Roanoke from 1967-73, leading the Maroons to a 133-44 record, five 20-win campaigns, and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1972 College Division national championship. He was named NABC College Division National Coach of the Year following the 1972 season. After a successful stint in Salem, Charles Moir moved on to successful stops at Tulane (1973-77) and Virginia Tech (1977-87). A 1974 Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, the elder Moir compiled an overall record of 616-238 over 31 seasons as a head coach. He is listed in the top-75 collegiate coaches of all-time in number of wins and winning percentage (.667).