New Palestine High School

Craig Moore has been named the 15th girls basketball head coach in New Palestine High School history. Moore brings 16 years of coaching experience to the position, including serving the 2022-23 season as the Dragons’ junior varsity coach as part of Sarah Gizzi’s staff. He takes over the Dragons’ program as it prepares to celebrate its 50th varsity season in 2023-24. Moore brings his skills of leading a program, both in team and individual player skill development, as well as strength and fitness training, to his first varsity coaching position. Moore takes over for Sarah Gizzi, who led the Dragons to a 98-51 record, two sectional championships and a conference championship in her six seasons. Before coming to NPHS, Moore coached one season at New Palestine Junior High. He also coached junior high girls for three seasons and boys for six at Morristown from 2012-21. Prior to that, he was an assistant boys coach at Morristown High School from 2007-10, coaching alongside 278-game winner Scott McClelland. Moore also spent two seasons coaching junior high boys basketball in Rushville under coach Kerry Brown. “Throughout my basketball career, I have been fortunate to play for and work alongside some of the best coaches in the state in Kerry Brown, Scott McClelland, Jerry Craig and Sarah Gizzi,” Moore said. “The reason I feel confident in my ability to lead the New Palestine girls basketball program is due to their willingness to lead and mentor me throughout my years as a player and coach. I am extremely grateful for each of them. I am also grateful for the trust the New Palestine administrators have placed in me to lead the girls basketball program. Coach Gizzi set the bar high for New Palestine girls basketball and we will certainly work hard to keep raising that bar. I look forward to getting started.” In addition to coaching, Moore is in his 13th year as a school administrator, including his ninth in Southern Hancock schools, where he currently serves as the interim principal at New Palestine Junior High. He also has been the NPJH athletic director, dean of students and assistant principal, and began the 2022-23 school year as the assistant principal at NPHS. Prior to coming to New Palestine in 2014, Moore served four years as the assistant principal and athletic director at Morristown Junior-Senior High School. He also is a singer-songwriter, playing concerts throughout Central Indiana. “We are excited to have Craig’s leadership and passion for basketball leading our program forward,” NPHS athletic director Allen Cooper said. “Coach Moore is invested in furthering our program in the vision of commitment, character and class through the foundation of education-based athletics. “As a district leader, he will model our program through work ethic, togetherness, and a family approach. We are excited to see where he leads our team.” Moore is a native of Rush County who graduated from Rushville High School, where he played basketball for Jerry Craig. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Indianapolis and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Indiana State University. He also holds a personal fitness trainer certification from the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association. Moore and his wife Misty have two children - Drake, who currently plays basketball for Oakland City University and is pursuing a degree in marketing, and Kendra, a freshman at NPHS.