Few in athletics are as associated with Southwest High as Tom Moore. Moore, a 1975 graduate, played guard on the basketball team but made his name as a coach. He also played football and ran track for fellow inductee Fred Ellis. After serving as assistant for four seasons, he became head coach at age 27 and held the position for 31 years. His best team was the 2000-01 squad that finished 22-7 and was GMAC runner-up. But, without a doubt, his biggest victory came during the 1995-96 season when his Eagles shocked Miami High at "the Asylum", the first home loss for the state champion Stings since 1987. After his final season, he was named Coach of the Year by the Dade Schools Athletic Foundation. The same year he received the Miami Herald's Lifetime Achievement award. The gym at Southwest is named in his honor. Numerous former Moore players have gone on to become coaches themselves, including long-time University of South Florida women's coach Jose Fernandez and his successor as Eagles head coach, Roberto Fatjo.
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