{"id":479663,"date":"2026-09-29T20:04:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/479663\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T20:04:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:04:16","slug":"fresno-state-gave-kirby-moore-his-big-break-now-it-stands-in-washington-states-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/479663\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno State gave Kirby Moore his big break. Now it stands in Washington State\u2019s way"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days, Kirby Moore<\/a> is hard at work, trying to find ways to win football games in his first season with the Washington State Cougars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sentimental strolls through his past are the last things he\u2019d prefer to be doing just days before the Cougars open Pac-12 play at Martin Stadium.<\/p>\n

And yet, it is pretty obvious Fresno State University<\/a> – WSU\u2019s opponent Saturday – still has a longstanding place in his heart as he attempts to climb more steps within the coaching profession.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hardest thing in coaching is to get your first job,\u201d Moore said, \u201cand for someone to trust you to run your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s back up, first.<\/p>\n

A WIAA receiving record-holder from Prosser High School, Moore joined his older brother, Kellen, at Boise State<\/a> in 2009, where he was a two-year starting wide receiver, finishing his career with 115 receptions for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns in 45 career games.<\/p>\n

\"Boise<\/p>\n

Jan 4, 2010; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore (11). | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Naturally, if he decided to jump into coaching, it made sense to do work with that position group. And that is what he coached at the College of Idaho in 2014 – and at Washington under Chris Petersen when he joined the staff as a graduate assistant a year later.<\/p>\n

In 2016, Petersen hired former California coach Jeff Tedford<\/a> to be an offensive consultant for the Huskies.<\/p>\n

In that capacity, Tedford was able to observe every part of Petersen\u2019s operation, including the work Moore was doing with the Huskies\u2019 wide receivers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not know Jeff,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

Tedford must have liked what he saw from Moore, because after he was hired a year later to lead the Fresno State program, he asked the young up-and-comer to join his staff and coach receivers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was at the right place, right time,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

Fresno State gave Kirby Moore his first big break<\/p>\n

And so, Moore began his first real journey in 2017 as an NCAA Division I assistant coach under Tedford – and working with new offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer.<\/p>\n

For three seasons, Moore coached the wide receivers group. In 2020, after DeBoer returned from Indiana to replace Tedford as the new Bulldogs coach, Moore became the team\u2019s pass-game coordinator.<\/p>\n

Two seasons later, when Tedford returned for a second stint at Fresno State, Moore was elevated to offensive coordinator to call plays for emerging quarterback Jake Haener and a team that finished 10-4 and won the Mountain West Conference.<\/p>\n

And who did the Bulldogs beat in the LA Bowl to cap a season-ending nine-game winning streak? It was WSU – 29-6.<\/p>\n

The lessons Moore carried from Fresno State to WSU<\/p>\n

\u201c(What I remember) is probably just the amount of learning experiences I had working for Jeff Tedford,\u201d Moore said. \u201cThat guy has forgotten more football than I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fresno<\/p>\n

Nov 25, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Tedford. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

What lessons have stuck with Moore most in his days from Fresno State?<\/p>\n

\u201cConsistency in messaging and just working with players on a daily basis,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

And his admiration and respect for Tedford and DeBoer run deep.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth \u2026 were themselves, and that was probably the most important thing from a leadership standpoint,\u201d Moore said. \u201cBoth operated maybe a little bit differently, but they were true to who they were.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of the 2022 season, Moore was hired away to become the offensive coordinator at Missouri.<\/p>\n

And now, he is the new WSU coach – facing Fresno State in what has to be a full-circle moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of turnover (at Fresno State),\u201d Moore said, \u201cbut a lot of tradition there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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