After being courted by St. John’s University to fill a position recently vacated by Chris Mullin, Loyola men’s basketball coach Porter Moser is staying put.
The Ramblers’ head man turned down a reported eight-year deal worth nearly $17 million.
Loyola Men’s Basketball vs. Alcorn State
The Benet Academy and Creighton University graduated opted to stay in the Midwest as opposed to heading to New York for a hefty pay raise.
Moser has coached eight seasons with the Ramblers and has won back-to-back conference titles and has three 20-win seasons in five years.
In 2017-18, Moser led Loyola to a school-record 32 wins and their first Final Four appearance since winning the NCAA championship in 1963, along with a No. 7 ranking in the final 2017-18 USA Today Coaches Poll.
“People in business say I’m crazy for passing up opportunities and the money,” Moser said in a statement. “But what they don’t know is the amazing young men I coach and the culture we have built. What they don’t know are the amazing young men who are committed to come to Loyola and wear the Maroon and Gold. What they don’t know are the people and friends that make up the Loyola community. And what they don’t know is what makes me tick.
“So what I do say to Rambler nation is — let’s keep building this culture and making a difference. Let’s keep chasing championships. Let’s do things better than we have ever done before. With that said — I’m all in.”
Moser was named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year this year and also was selected as the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 16 Coach of the Year.
“We couldn’t be more excited to continue to have Porter Moser lead our men’s basketball program and have said all along that he is a perfect fit at Loyola,” said Loyola Director of Athletics Steve Watson in a statement. “Porter’s accomplishments here, especially over the last five years, speak for themselves, and most importantly, he has achieved success by doing things the right way with high-character student-athletes.”
The Naperville native was a three-year varsity starter for Benet Academy and was named the conference player of the year as a senior. Moser was a key factor in Benet’s state record 102-game home winning streak, was an all-state selection and in 2017 was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a player.
At Creighton, Moser was a two-year starter and helped the Bluejays to the 1989 Missouri Valley Conference title and a NCAA Tournament berth.