Brandon Moore named head of USD football

Football head coach announced  following ‘retirement’ controversy 

Amara Brooks / Sports Editor / The USD Vista

Associate Vice President and Executive Director Bill McGillis announced  on Wednesday, April, 19, that former Colorado School of Mines head coach Brandon Moore will become the new head coach for USD football. The news comes just one month after the program was involved in some controversy regarding previous head coach Dale Lindsey’s debated retirement. In a statement about Lindsey’s retirement on March 21, McGillis only had nice things to say about the program’s winningest coach. However, Lindsey told The San Diego Union-Tribune, “I did not (bleeping) retire.”

Moore made history late last year after leading the Bulldogs to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship game his first season with the program. Moore, who was a linebacker at University of Oklahoma, also spent six years playing in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

In a statement posted on the football team’s main athletic page, McGillis addressed Moore’s successes, while addressing the legacy Lindsey left on the program. 

“As a coach, Brandon has demonstrated an outstanding record of success as a position coach, defensive coordinator and head coach, and he has done so in a highly-competitive academic environment with exceptional students,” McGillis stated. “I am very confident Coach Moore will build on the amazing legacy of Dale Lindsey and the strong foundation of championship success established by all of our former players and coaches.”

A day after the announcement, the team met with Coach Moore for the first time. Junior safety Maverick Martin shared how just off initial meeting, he could tell the new coach would fit in as one of the team. 

“Coach Moore seemed like a really good guy and a really cool coach,” Martin stated. “He’s young, and he showed up to the meeting in Air Force 1’s, which was pretty funny and awesome, because it shows that he’s relatable to us.”

Moore started his coaching career in 2012, staying with Scottsdale Community College for three years before joining Colorado Mines as a Linebackers coach in 2016. 

Martin described that  Coach Moore’s coaching principles are rooted around love. 

“He’s definitely different than any kind of coach I’ve ever had,” Martin explained. “I can tell that so far just because of what he said in his speech. He said that he wants to win, but how he wants to win is through love. [He] wants the entire team to love each other and know what’s going on in our lives and he wants to be personal with us, and show that he cares about us and we’re more than just football players. With him being a player before himself, he really cares about our mental health, and I’ve never had a head coach say that, especially in my first time meeting them.”

Mentioned in McGillis’ statement, it’s understood that Coach Moore is picking up the “amazing” foundation that former Coach Lindsey left with the program. In the same statement announcing his introduction to the program, Moore spoke on the work he gets to continue with the team. 

“The decades-long athletic department success presents an ideal place to call home. I’m grateful to the long list of USD players, coaches and staff that have built the football program into national prominence and look forward to continuing the climb. We can’t wait to get started.”

Lindsey, who had head coached the program for 10 years, left the program with the fourth best win percentage (72.7%) in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). 

Martin shared that Coach Moore coaching the program following Lindsey’s legacy means he gets to coach a team of winners. 

“Coach Lindsey’s the G.O.A.T, you know,” Martin claimed.  “He left a forever impact on our program and a piece of him in each of his players, but like all things gotta come to an end, and all you can really do is just pick up where Coach Lindsey left off. Coach Moore said today he’s so excited about taking on this team in San Diego, as he’s taking on a team of winners and he’s not taking on a losing program and trying to make them winners. He’s taking on a winning program and continuing from where we left off.”

When USD football announced the news on their Instagram, the comments were flooded with support and encouragement from both past and current Toreros. Comments such as “pick up where Coach Dale left off. Let the greatness continue” from  @chrisdelsantos and “I am a former Torero player and Brandon Moore is probably one of the best men you could get to lead that program outstanding” from @baniszr all spoke to the respected work and reputation Moore has. 

The University is hosting a celebration on April 26 to welcome the new coach at Paseo de Colachis. 

The Toreros will return to the field and start their 2023 season on Sept. 2.