A.J. Moye is headed back to the state of Indiana.
Valparaiso University announced on Wednesday afternoon Moye has been named an assistant coach.
Moye, who helped lead the Hoosiers to the 2002 national title game before beginning a professional playing career, has trained professional and collegiate players since 2011 as part of Rising Talent Development (Mamba Sports Academy + Sports Academy), serving as the Master Basketball Trainer for Kobe Bryant’s academy.
Moye and Valpo head coach Roger Powell were adversaries during their collegiate days as Big Ten rivals when Powell starred for Illinois. They later finished out their playing careers as teammates with Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany in 2010-11.
“The opportunity to join the coaching staff at Valparaiso University means the world to me,” Moye said in a release. “Roger Powell and I have been going at it since college, when he played at Illinois and I played at Indiana. I could not be happier and more energetic to come back to Indiana for my first college coaching position. I’ve experienced the love of the game in the Hoosier State. I’m a worker; I’m up at 4:30 every morning. I love working and getting after it. My specialty is skill development. I can’t wait to get to Valpo and get started.”
Moye has trained countless NBA players including All-Stars DeMar Derozan and Kyrie Irving as well as former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz. Since 2014, he has been part of the boys varsity basketball staff at Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Calif., where the team was ranked in the top 25 in the state of California in every year of his tenure. He previously served as the head boys varsity basketball coach at Oak Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif. from 2012-2014.
“Playing against A.J. at Illinois and then playing together professionally, I’ve been able to develop a great relationship with him,” Powell said. “His work ethic and winning pedigree bode extremely well for Valpo Basketball. He has tremendous recognition in the state of Indiana, and I’m excited to add another Final Four to our coaching staff.”
After earning Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia in 2000 and earning All-American status at Westlake High School, Moye became a standout with the Hoosiers, where he played from 2000-2004 after coming in as part of head coach Bob Knight’s final recruiting class at IU.
He went on to play in the professional ranks in Iceland, Germany and Finland. During that time, he was a 2011 German League All-Star, the 2010 Finnish Basketball Defensive Player of the Year and Finnish MVP, a 2006 German League All-Star and the 2006 Icelandic League MVP.
Moye’s playing career ended abruptly and his life journey was put on hold when he suffered a stroke.
“After my stroke, I was starting from Square 1,” he said. “I couldn’t walk; I couldn’t talk. It took seven or eight months for me to start walking and moving, and it took me a year or two to fully get back on my feet. It’s a humbling experience to go through after you were one of the top athletes in the world. Once I went through that, I knew I could get through anything. It’s all about faith.”
Moye’s family includes his wife Cynthia, his daughter Solana (20), his daughter Bella (4), his son Elisha Kobe (1) and his daughter Lola Faith (three weeks).
What They’re Saying About Coach Moye
Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Second Team All-American for UCLA: “A.J. has been a huge part in helping me and my career. He has been my mentor, trainer, friend, big brother and a man who believed in me when no one else did. What he can bring to a program is great energy, a positive attitude and an ability to get the best out of his players. He can relate to his players because he has been in their shoes and knows what’s to be expected. His basketball IQ is at an extremely high level. What I value most is that he instills confidence in his players and gets the best out of them at all times. He is more than just a coach, he is a leader and teaches lessons that carry beyond basketball. He will make an impact that will last a lifetime.”
Riley Battin, Four-Year Starter at Utah, Scored Over 1,000 Collegiate Points: “A.J. Moye is a fantastic person and trainer. He is able to connect with all kinds of players in a personal way that builds real love with those around him. His commitment to the game and constant improvement is so contagious to those around him. He is a selfless leader who has impacted so many throughout his life.”
Coach @RogerPowellJr and @AJ_Moye2 battled against one another during their college playing days in the Big Ten. Then, they were teammates in the professional ranks. Now, they will work side-by-side on the Beacon bench. #GoValpo pic.twitter.com/CGJJnArSPN
— Valpo Athletics (@valpoathletics) April 26, 2023
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