Western Texas College

Coaching Staff

Craig Moore

Head Coach- Craig Moore
cmoore@wtc.edu
325-574-7697

Craig Moore is entering his first year as Head Baseball Coach at Western Texas College. Prior to his arrival to WTC, Coach Moore was the Recruiting Coordinator and top assistant at Division I Tennessee Tech University for three years, under current Head Coach Matt Bragga. During his time @ TTU, the talent level in the program was dramatically increased as two recruits were drafted in the MLB draft and several others earned all-conference honors. Moore worked with the outfielders, infielders, and hitters and oversaw several administrative duties. Moore’s defensive units never had below a .955 fielding percentage, which put them in the top third of the conference every year. Another accomplishment @ TTU that Moore oversaw was the overall team GPA reaching the highest mark in 15 years in 2005. Moore started his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Lake Erie College, where he helped start the program from scratch. In its second year of existence, the program increased its win total from 0 in the first year to 11 in its second year.

Following a stellar high school career at Archbishop Bergan High School, Moore was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the 1995 MLB draft. Moore opted instead for college baseball and headed to the University of Nebraska. During his stay at Nebraska, Moore was a four-year starter and letter winner, as well as an academic all-conference pick. In the spring of 1999 Moore tied a school record with 10 RBI’s in a game against Chicago State, where the Huskers set several NCAA records that day. Moore’s career ended on a high note as the Huskers won the Big XII Championship and appeared in a regional. At Nebraska, Moore played for current Arkansas Head Coach Dave Van Horn, current Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson, and current Texas AM Head Coach Rob Childress. More also had the opportunity to play alongside future big leaguers Ken Harvey (Kansas City), Jamal Strong (Seattle), Adam Stern (Atlanta and Boston), and Adam Shabala (Giants).

At Western Texas, Coach Moore will oversee all day-to-day operations of the program, as well as working with the hitters and infielders. A native of Fremont, Nebraska, Moore holds a Finance degree from the University of Nebraska, and a Master’s Degree from Lake Erie College in Business Administration. Moore currently resides in Snyder with his wife, Alison.

Kurtis Lay

Assistant Coach - Kurtis Lay
Pitching Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
klay@wtc.edu
325-574-7697

Kurtis Lay is entering his first year as an assistant coach at Western Texas College. At Western Texas Kurtis will be counted on to manage the pitching staff and serve in the role of recruiting coordinator. Kurtis has spent the past two years as a graduate assistant for the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals. In his two years at Lubbock Christian Kurtis served as the head coach for the JV program and as a third assistant for the varsity program. In Kurtis’s two years with the Chaparrals they achieved a record of 86 wins and 17 losses. During his final term with the chaps they went a perfect 20 and 0 in Sooner Athletic Conference play and achieved the National number one ranking with a final record of 53 and 4. Kurtis has also coached summer baseball with the Burkburnett Blacksox and most recently this past summer as an assistant coach for the Lubbock Hubbers.

Kurtis is originally from Abilene, TX and graduated from Abilene Cooper in 2002. Kurtis played junior college ball at North Central Texas College and Odessa College before returning home his junior and senior seasons to play for Coach Steve Coleman and the Hardin Simmons University Cowboys. While with the Hardin Simmons Cowboys Kurtis was a pitcher and designated hitter and achieved all region NABC honors during his junior year.

Kurtis received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Fitness from Hardin Simmons University and this past November he received his Master of Education in Special Education from Lubbock Christian University. He currently resides in Snyder.