Driven by Passion, Emily Moore Reaches 100 Wins and Shapes a New Era at Trevecca

Maven McGregory

Senior Reporter

Emily Moore never planned to coach volleyball. She studied pre-law with dreams to become an attorney, but her love for the sport led her to the collegiate level.

Fueled by her passion for volleyball, Moore reached her 100th career win milestone this season as Trevecca’s head coach.

“I did not know even going into college that I would end up as a coach. I started with it and I loved it. I haven’t left,” said Moore

She has played volleyball since she was 12. While she didn’t play in college, she played for her own enjoyment.

She began her coaching career at the high school level after a coaching duo invited her to help their team. This continued with club volleyball, USAB, and JVA programs for years.

After tearing her ACL in college, Moore had a moment of revelation, wondering what her life would look like if she had chosen a different career path.

“I was working for an attorney at the time. I thought to myself, ‘This is gonna be my life. Inside, sitting down at a desk, and not competing with young women.’ What I missed most was that I couldn’t get out on the court and coach these kids while I was immobile,” said Moore

In 2018, she was ready for a change in her life.

“I realized when I got in that setting that the competition that I love and that I was missing by not playing anymore, I could feed that fire of competing by being on the sidelines, like coaching kids who were competing,” said Moore

After nine years, she left her role of teaching high school English to pursue coaching at a collegiate level, which landed her at Trevecca.

“I checked the schedules of my former players who are now playing college because I have this freedom to go to all their college games. And at that moment, I realized the only thing  I’m really missing from the life that I just left is the kids that I coached and volleyball. That was my sign.  When I got back to Nashville, I coached club volleyball and decided to position myself so that I can take a collegiate job, whether that means I’ve got to  be a volunteer assistant or take a sacrificial year from a financial standpoint, I’d do it,” said Moore

Moore returned to Nashville to visit with former head coach Jayme Crowley, which turned into an opportunity to join the Trevecca staff. Within a year, she was promoted to head coach.

Seven years later, Moore’s 100th career win reflects her  hard work and the athletes who trusted her leadership.

“I’m an intense and empathetic coach. I try to provide really clear direction on how best to journey, to meet those expectations. Together we set goals for what we want in the season and then I basically ask, ‘ are you going to let me really push you to reach those goals?’ I want the players to have a voice. So almost everything that we do comes with an explanation and an opportunity for clarification,” said Moore 

Associate head coach Allyssa Gage said Moore’s work ethic contributes to her success. 

“I don’t think they realize how many hats she wears. She helps in a lot of different areas in the athletic department, but her priority is always her team. At the end of the day, she cares about the girls in this program, in the culture, and in the time she puts into what she does. A lot of people don’t realize that and that’s what also makes us pretty successful, “ said Gage. 

Skias Hainline, varsity captain says Moore’s impact goes beyond volleyball, shaping her life off the court.

“She has developed me into a stronger, confident, and smarter volleyball player. Off the court, she supported me in school and developed me into a tremendous leader. Now, I have a lot of confidence in myself. I have a lot more belief in myself because of her,” said Hainline

Under Moore’s leadership, players have set numerous individual records.

In the Gulf South Conference championship against University of West Florida, Hainline had 31 assists, giving her a Trevecca single-season record of 1,187 assists. Lily Van Beber finished the match with 14 digs, setting a new season record with 562 digs, passing the previous mark of 560.

For Moore, the milestone isn’t about numbers, but about the athletes who helped her reach it.

“I don’t get those 100 wins without players going out there and winning the games. So yes, I’m coaching and maybe I’m pulling some of the strings and moving the parts around a little bit, but ultimately it’s those young women that are playing for me that are getting the win,” said Moore

Moore’s 100th win is a milestone, but the real impact lies in the lessons and strength she instills in her players.

 “I want my players to feel like they’ve learned something about their own resiliency, confidence and the things that they’ve accomplished as athletes here. I want to set them up to accomplish bigger things in life, so the discipline that it took to be successful here will serve them in life. The friendships, learning to communicate and connect with different types of people will serve them later in life. The sacrifices that they’ve made will serve them later in life.,” said Moore. “ I hope that they realize that every hard thing that they were presented with in their four years, they’re able to navigate and overcome it. There isn’t anything that life is going to throw at them that’s too hard. God’s not going to give you anything that you can’t handle. And so I want them to come out of this program with a sense of just agency over their life.” 

Trevecca’s Volleyball team ended their season in GSC semi-finals where they lost to the University of West Florida three sets to one.