WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Chris Popp, head coach of the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team, today announced the hiring of Ken Moses as the team’s new assistant coach.

Moses, a native of Honolulu, Hawai’i, began his new duties Monday. He comes to the Grizzlies following four years as a graduate assistant and assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK).

“Ken has proven himself as a worker in this business,” Popp said. “He has been involved in highly successful programs, learning from coaches who I respect and who do things the right way. Ken is accomplished, organized and motivated. I am excited to get him here and plugged into what we are building.”

Moses also is excited to join the Grizzly program. “I’m familiar with the college and its history, the tradition it has and the way it has developed players for the next level. I’m extremely happy to be affiliated with a program of this caliber. I look forward to helping these young adults get a good education and become great basketball players,” he said.

AT UNK

During his tenure at UNK, Moses helped the Lopers win 53 games and reach the Mid-America Athletic Conference (MIAA) tournament in Kansas City three times. He also was instrumental in helping the team post back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in 10 years and make its 12th appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament.

While at UNK, he coached one NJCAA Division II All-American, three first team All-MIAA selections, one second team All-MIAA selection, one third team All-MIAA selection, 1 All-MIAA defensive team selection, and three honorable mention All-MIAA selections.

AT CSU

Prior to joining the Lopers, Moses spent three years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Colorado State University in Pueblo, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. He helped the ThunderWolves win 39 games and place fourth in the league standings during the 2012-13 season.

As a guard for the ThunderWolves, he appeared in 80 games and started 15, and helped the team earn 17 wins during the 2009-10 season. He was a four-year letter winner at CSU-Pueblo and served as a team captain during the 2009-10 season.

“I want to thank Coach Popp for everything he’s done to give me this opportunity, and I want to thank UNK Athletics, especially Kevin Lofton, who’s been a great mentor to me and helped me mature and grow as a coach,” Moses said.

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call 417-255-7991.