Xavier University Athletics
Xavier Nation Magazine Feature: Glamorous Life
08.16.16 | Athletic Department
For Mike Moran, coaching in Division III may not be filled with perks, but it’s where he wants to be
Mike Moran will be the first to tell you he doesn't live in the lap of luxury as a Division III head basketball coach. He owns a painting company to supplement his income, drives not one but two high-mileage cars, and has to make sure his John Carroll University locker room is nice and tidy before he leaves each day.
How many coaches closing in on 500 career victories can say that?
"No, I wouldn't call it a glamour job," he says.
But the life the former Xavier University football player has chosen is one that he's certainly happy with. "My kids were all educated in this system," Moran says. "I have three kids who are head coaches in high school and my daughter is an accountant. That in itself is enough reward for the job."
Moran played football and basketball in high school but came to Xavier on a football scholarship in 1969. He injured his knee during his first year and as part of his rehabilitation Moran joined the freshman basketball team.
"I was quickly told my basketball career was over and I was there to play football," says Moran, a 1973 graduate. "That was probably a wise choice."
During his senior year, Fr. Albert Bischoff asked Moran about his plans after graduation and Moran told him he wanted to teach and coach. Bischoff lined up a job for Moran at Elder High School where he taught business and coached football and basketball.
Eventually, Moran relocated to his native Cleveland, where he made his mark in basketball building a powerhouse at Villa Angela-St. Joseph's. He was an assistant basketball coach when Clark Kellogg starred at St. Joe's and an assistant football coach for future Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. St. Joe's alums who starred under Moran are a list of Ohio schoolboy legends: Kevin Edwards, Eric Riley, Treg Lee, Melvin Levett, and a slender guard named Stan Kimbrough, who eventually found his way to Victory Parkway.Â
"When Xavier started turning their fortunes around in basketball, the one kid who really was the program changer was Stan Kimbrough," says Moran, who won two state titles and had a 224–53 record in 11 years at St. Joe's. "We had a lot of great, great players. We won the state championship in 1990 and '91 and that was probably my leverage to get into college basketball."
That was 25 years ago. At John Carroll, Moran lives the life of non-scholarship hoops, year-to-year contracts, long bus rides, and overnight diners. And there are plenty of victories.
In 2015–2016, the Blue Streaks reeled off 21 consecutive wins and finished 25–3 overall and ranked No. 5 nationally by D3hoops.com. Moran has won 11 Ohio Athletic Conference championships, been to the NCAA Tournament 12 times and the Division III Final Four once (2004). Moran is 441–220 in 25 seasons.
"The nice thing is John Carroll is a Jesuit school just like Xavier and we get really good kids," says Moran, who has also doubled as the golf coach for the last 22 years. "Your headaches, if you have any, are just on the court. At least I haven't had to worry about off-the-court shenanigans and other stuff like that. When I first started here I was like, 'OK, I have to have a study table, I have to do this and that.' Then after a month and was like, 'Geez, the kids who get into the school already know how to study.' "
In 25 years, only six players became ineligible and all were able to get their grades back up and graduate. "One was my own son," Moran says. "He blamed it on heredity. It wasn't his fault, it was a hereditary problem. You should have heard that conversation."
All part of the Division III glamorous life. Â
How many coaches closing in on 500 career victories can say that?
"No, I wouldn't call it a glamour job," he says.
But the life the former Xavier University football player has chosen is one that he's certainly happy with. "My kids were all educated in this system," Moran says. "I have three kids who are head coaches in high school and my daughter is an accountant. That in itself is enough reward for the job."
Moran played football and basketball in high school but came to Xavier on a football scholarship in 1969. He injured his knee during his first year and as part of his rehabilitation Moran joined the freshman basketball team.
"I was quickly told my basketball career was over and I was there to play football," says Moran, a 1973 graduate. "That was probably a wise choice."
During his senior year, Fr. Albert Bischoff asked Moran about his plans after graduation and Moran told him he wanted to teach and coach. Bischoff lined up a job for Moran at Elder High School where he taught business and coached football and basketball.
Eventually, Moran relocated to his native Cleveland, where he made his mark in basketball building a powerhouse at Villa Angela-St. Joseph's. He was an assistant basketball coach when Clark Kellogg starred at St. Joe's and an assistant football coach for future Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. St. Joe's alums who starred under Moran are a list of Ohio schoolboy legends: Kevin Edwards, Eric Riley, Treg Lee, Melvin Levett, and a slender guard named Stan Kimbrough, who eventually found his way to Victory Parkway.Â
"When Xavier started turning their fortunes around in basketball, the one kid who really was the program changer was Stan Kimbrough," says Moran, who won two state titles and had a 224–53 record in 11 years at St. Joe's. "We had a lot of great, great players. We won the state championship in 1990 and '91 and that was probably my leverage to get into college basketball."
That was 25 years ago. At John Carroll, Moran lives the life of non-scholarship hoops, year-to-year contracts, long bus rides, and overnight diners. And there are plenty of victories.
In 2015–2016, the Blue Streaks reeled off 21 consecutive wins and finished 25–3 overall and ranked No. 5 nationally by D3hoops.com. Moran has won 11 Ohio Athletic Conference championships, been to the NCAA Tournament 12 times and the Division III Final Four once (2004). Moran is 441–220 in 25 seasons.
"The nice thing is John Carroll is a Jesuit school just like Xavier and we get really good kids," says Moran, who has also doubled as the golf coach for the last 22 years. "Your headaches, if you have any, are just on the court. At least I haven't had to worry about off-the-court shenanigans and other stuff like that. When I first started here I was like, 'OK, I have to have a study table, I have to do this and that.' Then after a month and was like, 'Geez, the kids who get into the school already know how to study.' "
In 25 years, only six players became ineligible and all were able to get their grades back up and graduate. "One was my own son," Moran says. "He blamed it on heredity. It wasn't his fault, it was a hereditary problem. You should have heard that conversation."
All part of the Division III glamorous life. Â
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