Two months into his tenure, Coach Kirby Moore has moved quickly to reshape Washington State football. The early picture is clear: aggressive roster work, a staff built with purpose, an offense that adapts to its personnel, and a renewed emphasis on in-state recruiting and alumni engagement. Below are the key takeaways on roster construction, scheme, and what Cougar fans should expect heading into the next season.
A fast, transparent start
Moore’s first priority was meeting the current players where they are. He spent the days after the bowl game having long meetings with players and parents, traveling to Boise, and being physically present at practice rather than sitting behind a desk. That kind of hands-on approach was deliberate: build trust, create transparency, and give players clarity about their roles and futures.
The results were tangible. The program retained a significant portion of its roster while adding heavily through the transfer portal and the early signing period. That rapid pace required constant communication and a clear plan — and Moore credits roster manager Brad London and the staff for executing that plan.
Roster rebuild: transfer portal strategy and results
The staff moved quickly when the portal opened. They logged dozens of in-person visits in a short window and prioritized fits as much as names. The philosophy was straightforward: protect the players already in Pullman, clarify expectations, then go find complementary pieces on the portal.
Key recruiting and roster notes:
- Retention first: Immediate conversations with current players and parents set the tone.
- Portal activity: Heavy early engagement to hit needs quickly after the portal opened.
- Balance: Mix of prep signees, transfers, and retained players to build depth and experience.
An offense built around players, not dogma
Moore’s offensive philosophy is best summarized in one word: adaptable. He rejects rigid labels; instead he asks what the roster does best and then tailors the scheme around that.
Examples from his recent stops show this flexibility. At Fresno State, the offense leaned spread and tempo. At Missouri, the team often operated out of the pistol with a strong outside zone rushing identity and vertical passing elements. Moore emphasizes that the same staff should look different from week to week depending on personnel and matchups.
Key offensive principles
- Player-first design: Let the quarterback and skill players dictate structure and tempo.
- Situational identity: Repetition and clear roles for third down and red zone situations.
- Versatility: Ability to mix spread pace, pistol formations, and outside-zone run concepts.
Quarterbacks and skill-position clarity
The staff added Kaden Pinnick at quarterback via the portal, a move rooted in careful film study and conversations about fit. Moore stressed that when evaluating QBs he looks at big-game production and also the plays that went sideways: what did the quarterback control, and where was development needed? The offense will be tailored in the offseason to accentuate each signal-caller’s strengths.
Running back room and receivers were also a point of emphasis. The program returns production and added talent:
- Running backs: Lao Pulasi, Maxwell Woods, and Kirby Vorhees — experienced, driven, and already putting in extra work.
- Receivers: Tony Freeman returns, Tank Hawkins brings game-breaking speed, Darius Clemens offers explosive yards-after-catch ability, and Daniel Blood brings Missouri experience and system familiarity.
Expect the passing game to feature a variety of shapes and strengths — jump-ball threats, speed to stretch the field, and reliable slot options for volume and quarterback comfort.
Winning the small things: third down and red zone focus
Moore is a student of margins. He sees college football games increasingly decided by one-possession plays, and that drives a specific emphasis on situational football. That means:
- Rep-heavy offseason work on third-down concepts so players know what’s coming in pressure moments.
- A priority on scoring touchdowns in the red zone rather than settling for field goals.
- Creating a repeatable identity so players execute under stress.
Staff hires, culture, and the Washington footprint
Building the staff was strategic. Derek Sage returns with special teams experience and prior history at WSU, which helps with continuity and with selling the program to portal and prep recruits. The staff intentionally leaned on coaches with regional ties to keep Washington athletes in-state and to reconnect with alumni across the state.
Moore has already been on a "Washington tour," hitting Tri-Cities, Spokane, and the Seattle-Tacoma area, meeting alumni and fans. That outreach is more than optics: it’s about re-establishing roots and making Pullman a first-choice destination for Northwest prospects.
Rally Your Region: NIL campaign and fan involvement
Washington State launched a campaign — Rally Your Region — with a $2.5 million goal and a $500,000 match to bolster NIL support. The initiative splits the state into quadrants plus an outside-of-state bucket and turns the fundraising push into friendly competition among alumni and fans.
Moore emphasized that institutional investment in NIL was a key factor in his decision to return home, and he encourages fans to get involved. For those looking to support the program financially, this campaign is a direct way to help level the playing field and retain talent in Pullman.
Schedule highlights and fan expectations
The schedule offers both marquee matchups and a home-heavy slate that should excite the fan base. Moore asked for the season to be treated one week at a time, but he also stressed the importance of packing the stadium and maximizing home-field advantage.
A few operational points to note:
- One bye week: The conference moves back to a single bye, which increases the premium on keeping the roster healthy throughout the season.
- Flex scheduling: The league’s flex mechanism can alter late-season matchups to avoid repetitive conference conflicts and preserve marquee championship options.
From medical sales to the head-coach office: Moore’s journey
Moore’s path is a reminder that coaching careers can start from unlikely places. After an injury-shortened final season as a player, he tried medical sales but found himself drawn to coaching. A receivers coaching stint at College of Idaho reignited the fire and led to a grad-assistant role at Washington. From there he built experience under coaches like Chris Petersen, Jeff Tedford, and Kalin DeBoer before serving as an offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Missouri.
The throughline of Moore’s rise is adaptability and humility. He credits mentors but emphasizes one consistent piece of advice: be yourself. That authenticity shows in how he interacts with players, approaches staff-building, and crafts an offense that reflects personnel rather than ideology.
What to expect this season
The coming season should bring a team that is hungry, versatile, and built to maximize the talents on the roster. Expect:
- Offensive creativity: A system that can shift from tempo spread to pistol-based power depending on matchups.
- Physical running game: With experienced backs and thoughtful line work, the run will be a foundation.
- Speed and playmakers: Vertical threats and yards-after-catch specialists to create explosive scoring chances.
- Situational competence: Emphasis on third-down conversion and red zone touchdowns to win close games.
The foundation is being laid now: the staff is assembled, the roster has been vetted and supplemented, and the program’s fundraising and alumni outreach are back in motion. Fans should watch for an identity that feels rooted in the Pacific Northwest but flexible enough to evolve week-to-week. If the early signs are accurate, Pullman might be in for an exciting, competitive season.
Final thought
Rebuilding a program takes time, but the principles Moore is emphasizing — presence, transparency, adaptability, and situational excellence — are precisely the kind of building blocks that can produce consistent progress. For now, the Cougs are set up to compete, to develop, and to give fans plenty to cheer about this fall.