By JAYSON LARSON/Daily Sun Staff

In two decades, Kenneth Moore has taken young men, harnessed their natural abilities to help them become better athletes and, according to his grand plan, then help mold those athletes into better people.

Now, after 21 years with Corsicana ISD and 35 years in the coaching business, Kenneth Moore is getting ready for his last hurrah on the sideline as Collins Middle School eighth-grade head football coach. Moore coached his last home game earlier this month, a 36-14 win over Athens.

His last game happens Tuesday at Chapel Hill. His wife of 38 years, Gladys, will retire as a teacher from Navarro Elementary, as well.

"If I had it to do all over again, I'd do it all the same," Moore said. "It's been a great ride for me, a great time."

Moore has seen a lot during his coaching tenure. He's coached some of the best athletes to ever come through the program, like former Tiger and University of Houston record-breaking running back Ketric Sanford. He's coached against some great ones, as well, having once had to put his defense on the field against Eric Dickerson while he was at Sealy.

Moore not only coaches the 8th-grade, but also coordinates all the sports at Collins and assists other coaches in various jobs. When a new varsity football coach takes the reigns and installs a new program, Moore is the one who helps the younger generation of Tigers learn the ropes.

"We work hand in hand," Tiger head varsity coach Jeff Berry said. "We're totally built from those guys, and what their program does determines how we do.

"He's just a great coach, a great leader," Berry added. "With the position he's in being coordinator at the middle school, he just does a superb job and related well to those kids. It doesn't get better than Kenneth Moore."

Moore, a Corsicana native, started his career in 1967 in the South Texas town of Raymondville, serving as a junior high coach, a varsity assistant and head baseball coach during his time there. He stayed until 1977, when he moved on to Magnolia, where he started as an assistant and moved up to head coach and athletic director.

He returned to Corsicana in 1981 and has been here ever since. Corsicana athletic director Sam Thompson also came here in 1981 and has worked closely along side Moore in the years since. Thompson said Moore has done an outstanding job of not only getting players into the program, but also providing them with discipline and character they need to move on in life.

"He came home and has filled the perfect role for 21 years," Thompson said. "We will see his mark on these teams for years and years to come."

Said Moore: "I just want these young men to get the best education they can through the years. Football is secondary -- education comes first. I want them to become great young men, great citizens. If they can do that, football will take care of itself."

Moore will remain at Collins through the end of the school year. After that, he says he and his wife will settle in, maybe do a little traveling. No matter how far away he gets from the field, the memories are sure to remain.

"I've truly enjoyed it," Moore said. "I've been in this business 35 years, and I'm going to miss it, I'm sure. But I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Jayson Larson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

Corsicana Daily Sun