HAMPTON, Va. – FAMU head women’s track and field and cross country coach, Darlene Moore, Ed.D., was chosen the 2015 HBCU Digest Female Coach of the Year. The award was announced and presented on July 10., at the annual HBCU Digest awards gala on the campus of Hampton University.
“I felt very honored to win this prestigious award. I’m just thankful that we have an entity that is helping to give more recognition to our HBCUs,” Moore said. “What makes it even more exciting for me is being an HBCU graduate and coaching at only three schools…all HBCUs,” she added.
Moore won two of the three championships she participated in this year in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Her cross country team successfully defended their consecutive titles, by winning their third in a row. Her indoor track team finished fourth in the MEAC Indoor Championship. She coached that same team to a bounce back win, as 2015 MEAC Women’s Outdoor Champions. This was the first time since 2000 the Lady Rattlers had won the championship. She was named MEAC Outstanding Coach twice this year in those championship wins.
FAMU athletic director Milton Overton, was complimentary of Moore and her accomplishment. “I think it’s outstanding that our coach shined above the rest. It brings a lot of focus to our university. What she has accomplished in a short period of time, both on and off the track is exactly what we want from our entire department. She built a championship program out of a struggling one, and for that I commend her,” Overton said.
What adds to her phenomenal accomplishments is the team’s success off the field as well. Her teams have a combined GPA of 3.12, making them one of FAMU’s most well-rounded teams and one of the best in both the MEAC and all of black college athletics.
As an institution, FAMU led all HBCUs with 14 nominations, followed by host Hampton with 10. A record 430 nominations from universities, alumni, and students were submitted for the 2015 edition of the awards.
Finalists were selected based on the impact of the nominees’ achievement on institutional development, and for media coverage earned for the University by way of the nominee. Winners were selected by an academy of former HBCU Awards winners, former and current HBCU presidents, alumni, faculty, students, and journalists covering HBCU issues for local or national outlets.
With a strong tradition of track and field at Florida A&M, Moore has carved out a name for herself. “It felt good to be honored with FAMU president Dr. Elmira Magnum and alumnae Cecka Green. The three awards we won were three of the highest awards available for the event. It felt really special being amongst three successful women based right here at FAMU in Tallahassee,” Moore said.
Moore’s cross country team has become the juggernaut of the MEAC. When she first won the MEAC title in 2012, her team ended a drought of over a decade, barely edging Hampton, who had owned the championship. Fast forward to this year’s team and she won the championship going away, by over 30 points.
Following the rich tradition of FAMU track & field, Moore was competitive in the MEAC indoor track & field championship, before emerging victorious in the MEAC Outdoor Championship. FAMU runner Judith Kibii, emerged as the Most Outstanding Athlete, earning 27 points herself to lead the Lady Rattler squad.
Overton feels Moore’s hard work is why her team is achieving the department’s goal of building champions. “Coach Moore’s teams are exhibiting the excellence we want our entire department to achieve. We are in the business of building champions. Champions in the classroom, champions on the field and champions in life,” he concluded.