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Xavier University Athletics
Women's Basketball
Moore, Melanie
Melanie Moore
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- moorem46@xavier.edu
- Phone:
- 513.745.3038
Melanie Moore was named the eighth head women's basketball coach in program history on Friday, April 5, 2019. Xavier Athletics and Moore agreed to part ways on March 6, 2023.
The 2022-23 season was highlighted by Fernanda Ovalle being named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team, the second all-conference honoree under Moore. The Musketeers also won the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout vs Cincinnati for the first time under Moore.
Off the floor, three Musketeers were named to the 2022-23 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team selected by College Sports Communicators. All three players posted a 3.50 GPA or higher.
Xavier finished the 2021-22 season with a .746 free-throw percentage, ranking third in single-season program history. The Musketeers also finished the year with 89 blocks to rank ninth in single-season program history.
Individually, Ayanna Townsend finished her career with 80 blocks to rank seventh all-time in program history. She was also tabbed the 2021-22 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Musketeer to earn the academic honors.
Xavier finished the COVID-19 shortened season (2020-21) ranked second in the BIG EAST in steals per game (9.9), while ranking 35th in the NCAA. The 9.9 steals per game also ranked fourth in single-season Xavier history.
Individually, Aaliyah Dunham finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked first in the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ratio (3.17) - while ranking sixth in the NCAA. She also finished the year ranked 52nd in the NCAA in steals per game (2.47).
Moore picked up her first head coaching win in her debut, defeating Utah, 70-63, at Cintas Center on Nov. 7, 2019. She coached A'riana Gray to All-BIG EAST honors after the forward led the conference in rebounding for the second time in as many seasons.
The 2019-20 Musketeers finished the year ranked tied for seventh in single-season XU history with 93 blocks, while ranking 10th in three pointers attempted (557). Xavier knocked down 179 three pointers, just four shy of ranking in the top-10 in single-season program history.
During her time on the bench at Michigan, Moore helped the Wolverines post a 156-85 overall record with a 66-52 mark in Big Ten play. Michigan advanced to postseason play in all seven seasons, including three NCAA Tournament appearances. The Wolverines also recorded 20 or more wins in each season.
In 2018-19, the Wolverines went 22-12 (11-7 Big Ten) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Moore helped coach All-Big Ten honorees Hallie Thome and Naz Hilmon this season. Hilmon also earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, becoming the first player in program history to earn the recognition. All told, she helped coach 11 players to all-conference honors during her time at Michigan.
Moore was hired as an assistant coach at Michigan in 2012 after a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Princeton. The Tigers posted a 95-50 (65-16 Ivy League) record during her time as an assistant coach. Princeton also won three conference titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Moore also served as an assistant coach at Dayton (2006-07), Indiana State (2004-06) and Siena (2002-04).
The Glandorf, Ohio, native graduated from Siena in 1999 with a degree in finance after a Hall of Fame playing career. She was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
Moore was inducted into the Siena Hall of Fame in 2005 and the MAAC Hall of Fame in 2018. She also played professionally in Luxembourg and Israel for two years following graduation from Siena.
Moore inherits a storied Xavier program that has made 10 NCAA Tournaments with two Elite Eight appearances. The Musketeers have also won 10 conference titles in program history.
Moore and her husband, Joe, have two children, Tristin and Ayla.
The 2022-23 season was highlighted by Fernanda Ovalle being named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team, the second all-conference honoree under Moore. The Musketeers also won the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout vs Cincinnati for the first time under Moore.
Off the floor, three Musketeers were named to the 2022-23 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team selected by College Sports Communicators. All three players posted a 3.50 GPA or higher.
Xavier finished the 2021-22 season with a .746 free-throw percentage, ranking third in single-season program history. The Musketeers also finished the year with 89 blocks to rank ninth in single-season program history.
Individually, Ayanna Townsend finished her career with 80 blocks to rank seventh all-time in program history. She was also tabbed the 2021-22 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Musketeer to earn the academic honors.
Xavier finished the COVID-19 shortened season (2020-21) ranked second in the BIG EAST in steals per game (9.9), while ranking 35th in the NCAA. The 9.9 steals per game also ranked fourth in single-season Xavier history.
Individually, Aaliyah Dunham finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked first in the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ratio (3.17) - while ranking sixth in the NCAA. She also finished the year ranked 52nd in the NCAA in steals per game (2.47).
Moore picked up her first head coaching win in her debut, defeating Utah, 70-63, at Cintas Center on Nov. 7, 2019. She coached A'riana Gray to All-BIG EAST honors after the forward led the conference in rebounding for the second time in as many seasons.
The 2019-20 Musketeers finished the year ranked tied for seventh in single-season XU history with 93 blocks, while ranking 10th in three pointers attempted (557). Xavier knocked down 179 three pointers, just four shy of ranking in the top-10 in single-season program history.
During her time on the bench at Michigan, Moore helped the Wolverines post a 156-85 overall record with a 66-52 mark in Big Ten play. Michigan advanced to postseason play in all seven seasons, including three NCAA Tournament appearances. The Wolverines also recorded 20 or more wins in each season.
In 2018-19, the Wolverines went 22-12 (11-7 Big Ten) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Moore helped coach All-Big Ten honorees Hallie Thome and Naz Hilmon this season. Hilmon also earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, becoming the first player in program history to earn the recognition. All told, she helped coach 11 players to all-conference honors during her time at Michigan.
Moore was hired as an assistant coach at Michigan in 2012 after a five-year stint as an assistant coach at Princeton. The Tigers posted a 95-50 (65-16 Ivy League) record during her time as an assistant coach. Princeton also won three conference titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Moore also served as an assistant coach at Dayton (2006-07), Indiana State (2004-06) and Siena (2002-04).
The Glandorf, Ohio, native graduated from Siena in 1999 with a degree in finance after a Hall of Fame playing career. She was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
Moore was inducted into the Siena Hall of Fame in 2005 and the MAAC Hall of Fame in 2018. She also played professionally in Luxembourg and Israel for two years following graduation from Siena.
Moore inherits a storied Xavier program that has made 10 NCAA Tournaments with two Elite Eight appearances. The Musketeers have also won 10 conference titles in program history.
Moore and her husband, Joe, have two children, Tristin and Ayla.
 |
HEAD COACHING RECORD |
| Year | Overall | BIG EAST (Finish) |
| 2022-23 | 7-23 | 0-20 (11th) |
| 2021-22 | 9-21 | 4-16 (10th) |
| 2020-21 | 5-10 | 2-8 (9th) |
| 2019-20 | 3-27 | 2-16 (t-9th) |
| Overall | 24-81 | 8-60 |
|
|
COACHING TIMELINE |
| Year | School | Title |
| 2019-23 | Xavier | Head Coach |
| 2018-19 | Michigan | Associate Head Coach |
| 2012-18 | Michigan | Assistant Coach |
| 2007-12 | Princeton | Assistant Coach |
| 2006-07 | Dayton | Assistant Coach |
| 2004-06 | Indiana State | Assistant Coach |
| 2002-04 | Siena | Assistant Coach |
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