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OUR STORIES
Pete Moore
Director of Athletic Communications, Syracuse University 
by Rob Knox, Towson University Associate Director of Athletics Media Relations/
CoSIDA 2nd VP/CoSIDA Week Committee member
Beneath the colorful confetti showering jubilant Syracuse men’s basketball players who were hugging each other, snapping selfies, and high-fiving coaches following an amazing come-from-behind victory over Virginia that secured the Orange’s sixth trip – and second in four years -- to the NCAA Final Four was veteran Pete Moore, a steadying force oblivious to all of the marvelous mayhem surrounding him.
For Moore, this was his third trip to the Division I Men's Final Four as Syracuse’s Director of Athletic Communications, so he was familiar with the drill of getting celebratory players to postgame television and radio obligations.
“An unfortunate aspect of your team winning is that while everyone is celebrating, you have to remain calm and do your job – which often times means trying to get a player from the celebration to the sideline reporter promptly. I don’t get the chance to high-five or chest-bump, but that’s OK, it’s still fun as well as an amazing and exciting experience,” Moore noted.
A past-president of CoSIDA (2000-01) and an 11-year CoSIDA board member, Moore was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1998 and earned the association’s Warren Berg Award one year later. Moore has made a significant impact in the athletics communications profession during his years in the business, first at Ithaca and the last 19 at Syracuse.
“I have been fortunate to have found a career I love and to have to been able to work at two great places,” Moore said. “The jobs were a little different at both schools, but I was employed during amazing times at each. The men’s basketball program has been in the postseasom in all but one the years during my time here. That’s meant an extended season, but I’ve enjoyed that challenge. I like to think our staff has handled the extra work well and been able to help the media do its job. I’m proud of the consistency we’ve provided the media and other audiences.”
Moore during a Syracuse basketball shootaround with TV basketball analyst Bill Raftery (left) and Orange head coach Jim Boeheim.
In addition, Moore is a past-president of the Eastern College Athletic Conference-Sports Information Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA), and served on its board for six years.
Adding to his numerous awards in athletic communications, Ihe received the ECAC-SIDA Irving Marsh Award in 2001. At the 2008 CoSIDA Convention, Moore was recognized with a 25-Year Award plaque, marking his quarter century of service to the profession. Having held the role as SID at Ithaca College for 12 years, Moore was inducted into the Ithaca's Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
Moore understands the nuances of working at a small school and embraces the challenges of working at Power 5 school. That’s why during his time on the CoSIDA board, he made it a point to create an inclusive environment for all members.
“First off, to be on the board, then in the officer rotation, and then president – all of it was a tremendous honor,” Moore said. “One of the things I’m proud of is this – I very much wanted the convention and CoSIDA to be for all of its members. I thought at that time it would be important for us to be in the same room when possible. I didn’t want anyone coming away from it feeling like they didn’t have the chance to be involved. To me, the more members involved, the stronger CoSIDA was.”
Moore was hired at Syracuse as assistant director in 1998 and promoted to associate director in 2001. He is the primary media contact for men's basketball, which means he is legendary head coach Jim Boeheim’s right-hand person. Moore has embraced the challenge of working with Boeheim and raising the standard of excellence for a Division I men’s basketball office.
“When you consider Coach Boeheim’s accomplishments, not just in coaching but in our community and with his foundation, it’s pretty remarkable to me that I find myself working along him,” Moore said. “Thanks to the success the program has had during his time, coach gets a lot of media inquiries. It helps me that he has in mind those he wants to participate in and those he doesn’t feel he has time for. That helps me help him with his schedule.
“I think the most efficient way you develop trust with your coach is by your performance. It may take time but trust is earned. I’ve learned that loyalty is a characteristic that helps build trust.”
Moore’s advice for working at a school with intense media demands is being organized and working with your head coach to develop specific guidelines about media inquiries. While Moore understands the interest in his men’s basketball program, his best work occurs behind the scenes with mentoring interns.
“I am proud of the mentoring our staff has been able to do for the students, interns and younger assistants in our office,” Moore said. “Many members of the Syracuse SID family have stayed in the profession and excelled. I think the most important part of my role is the manner in which I represent the University, the athletic department, the coaches and the student-athletes. That’s broad, but almost everything we do is connected to representing the institution.”
Moore has been a monument of excellence in this field that continues to rapidly evolve. He has adapted to the ever-changing communications tools and strategies, and has been energized by the numerous talented folks entering the business as well as the friendships he has developed over the years with countless colleagues.
Moore noted that while he enjoys schools competing against each other on the playing fields, he enjoys more that the respective athletic communications staffs usually work collaboratively and cooperatively sharing ideas, tips and tricks that helps the profession as a whole.
There is, however, one thing Moore would like to see changed in our profession.
“I have been concerned for a while about low salaries in our profession,” Moore said. “It’s not easy to quantify what an athletic communications staff can do for a university. It’s much easier to judge other areas, like fund raising as an example. My hope is that all athletic departments and universities utilize the talents at their disposal in the athletic communications office.”
An ardent fan of the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres and New York Yankees, Moore gets an opportunity to relax and wind down by watching his kids participate in extra-circular activities.
This summer, Moore and his wife, Catherine, attended a pair of chest-bump worthy concerts in Bruce Springstein and Kenny Chesney. He also had an opportunity to see his wife, the former Catherine Moss, get inducted into the Ithaca Hall of Fame with her 1990 and 1991 NCAA Division III national championship soccer team.
“I got such a kick out of seeing the members of those two great teams,” Moore said. “As it turned out, most of the inductees that night competed when I was the sports information director there. Events like that make all the work worthwhile.”