Coach Moore’s Background

Clinician Jess Moore started wrestling in the 2nd grade in Bixby, Oklahoma, home of OK State greats Leo Bailey, Shane Roller, and Bobby Stites among others.  Moore’s family relocated to Northern Virginia in 1987 where he competed for Brentsville District HS under Coach Thad Kiesnowski.  He posted 139-6-1 career record, placed 1-1-3-1 in state tournament competition, and led the Tigers to two team state championships. In the spring of 1994, he earned All-American honors from Wrestling, USA and Academic All-American honors from the National High School Coaches’ Association.

Recruited by University of VA assistant Jim Akerly, Moore made the move to Charlottesville and the D-I ranks in the fall.  He finished his collegiate work with a .500 record and, he is proud to say, a win over 3x ACC champion, All-American, Riot Sports impresario, and teammate Jim Harshaw.  Moore received a BA in English in 1998 and an MA in Literature and Theory in 2000.

After a brief stint in higher education, Coach Moore returned to the mat in 2002 as an assistant at Liberty (Bealton) HS.  The next year he was invited back to his alma mater.  In 2008, he assumed head coaching duties. In his time at BDHS, he has coached 21 district champs, 26 region placers, 21 state placers, and 6 state finalists.