Moore’s Method: Building Harvard Women's Basketball into a Contender

Before Carrie Moore took the podium as Harvard’s new women’s basketball coach in 2022, she knew she wasn’t just taking over a program – she was setting a new standard. And Moore had a question for the team.

“If Harvard is the number one institution in the world, why can’t it be one of the best women’s basketball teams in the country as well?” Moore said in an interview with The Crimson.

Tasked with replacing legendary coach Kathy Delaney-Smith, Moore embraced the challenge with the same grit that defined her playing career.

In just three seasons, Moore delivered on the bold vision. Under her leadership, Harvard has transformed into a defensive powerhouse, boasting the top scoring defense in all of college basketball. She currently holds the highest win percentage (67.4%) in program history, including two 20-win seasons.

Moore instilled a culture of toughness, resilience, and belief, pushing her players to embrace challenges and redefine what’s possible for Harvard basketball. With the program reaching new heights, the question isn’t whether Moore has made history — it’s how much more is still to come.

‘I Had to Grind it Out’

Moore’s journey began in the outskirts of Detroit, raised in a blue-collar family where nothing came easy and everything was earned.

“I saw my parents grind it out and make a whole lot of something out of nothing,” Moore said. “My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me. As a player, I wanted to be the best.”

That mentality proved crucial when adversity struck early in her career. Despite a successful high school run, a torn ACL threatened Moore’s dream of playing at the next level. Under-recruited, she refused to let the setback define her, spending countless hours in the gym to earn a scholarship to play at Western Michigan University.

“I had to grind it out,” Moore recalled. “I’ve always had that chip on my shoulder, and that’s what has made my journey special. It’s who I am and I try to get that out of my players.”

At Western Michigan, she flourished, becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer and leading the nation in scoring in her dominant 2006-07 campaign. Her collegiate success earned her a pair of WNBA contracts as a free agent for the Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky and one season playing in Poland.

Following her playing career, Moore transitioned to the sidelines, beginning as the director of basketball operations at Princeton. There, she learned the complexities of recruiting, playing a key role in transforming the struggling Ivy-League program into a powerhouse — and a rival the Crimson will have to best to nab an automatic bid to March Madness.

At Princeton, she worked closely with then-assistant athletics director Erin McDermott, a relationship that would later help pave her way to Harvard.

After two seasons, Moore moved to full-time coaching roles, serving as an assistant at Creighton, returning to Princeton, and then joining the staffs of the University of North Carolina and the University of Michigan. At each stop, she played a critical role in developing talent and guiding teams to the NCAA tournament. In her final season as an assistant, she helped the Wolverines reach its first ever Elite Eight appearance.

When McDermott, herself a former collegiate women’s basketball player, presented the opportunity to coach Harvard, Moore knew it was the right opportunity.

“This is a place that truly cares about women’s basketball,” said Moore. “To be a first-time head coach here is truly a blessing. I’ve put everything I have into this.”

Coach Moore sits along the scorers table. Communicating with players on a personal level is especially meaningful for her. By Courtesy Harvard Athletics

The Three Principles

From the moment she arrived on campus, Moore made it clear that the program would be built on three fundamental principles: coachability, communication, and competitiveness.

“If you want to be successful here and know what I value as a head coach, those three things sum it up tremendously,” Moore said.

These values are the foundation of how Moore runs her program. She demands players who are eager to listen, willing to compete at the highest level, and capable of effectively communicating.

Harvard’s strong defense has been a core part of Moore’s coaching philosophy — a priority that dates back to her college days.

“As a player I wanted to guard the other team’s best player,” Moore recounted. “That’s just who I’ve been. Defense is all about heart and effort, and I never lacked for that.”

A firm believer in the old adage “defense wins championships,” she has instilled a gritty, disciplined defensive mindset in her players. Beyond the X’s and O’s, Moore understands that coaching today’s players requires more than just preaching effort and discipline. Her focus lies on building trust and strong relationships with her players.

“When you’re in the trenches, that builds a relationship that I hope is really meaningful,” Moore said. “I try to lead with love and toughness. I’m always thinking about how we can be better.”

Transforming the Program

When Moore took over, she inherited a talented but unproven team with a veteran core that embraced her vision from day one. That foundation allowed her to make an immediate impact.

“We didn’t deserve those seniors in our first year,” said Moore. “They were great. They represented all the right things and deserved everything they got. That year was really special and it allowed people to believe in what we could accomplish in me as a leader.”

After a rough start, Moore guided the team to a 20-12 finish including a statement victory over Princeton that snapped the Tigers 42-game Ivy League win streak. After losing the season series to Columbia, the team defeated the Lions to reach the Ivy Championship, ultimately falling to Princeton. Moore returned to the Elite Eight, this time in the WNIT, the furthest Harvard has gone in the tournament.

Moore’s first season established Harvard as a team on the rise, but for her, it was only the beginning. After a sophomore slump, this year, she has introduced a relentless full-court press, designed to disrupt opponents offensive rhythm and force turnovers.

The defensive adjustment has paved the way for Harvard to own the nation’s best defense. This season, Harvard earned its first ranked win of the Moore era, defeating the University of Indiana Hoosiers on the road 72-68 in overtime.

Moore’s team has been tested throughout the season in high-pressure moments against elite competition. When Harvard faced Columbia earlier this year, the team found itself trailing late after leading most of the game. Instead of crumbling under pressure, the players responded with composure and grinded out a 60-54 road victory.

Moore’s third season proved to be the best in program history in terms of regular season win percentage, finishing with a gaudy 22-4 record. Moore and the Crimson turn their attention to the postseason looking to capture the school’s first conference title in over 15 years.

A Coach and a Mentor

“This program has definitely taken steps forward,” said Moore. “We still haven’t accomplished the main mission: to win a championship. I think this team is more than capable of doing that, so keep watching.”

With each season, Moore has pushed Harvard closer to this elusive goal. The team has evolved to a defensive powerhouse, competing at a level that once seemed out of reach. But for Moore, success is measured beyond the basketball court.

She views her role not just as a coach, but as a mentor, shaping young women to succeed in all areas of life. Through the demands of competition, lessons of resilience, and culture of accountability she has built, Moore is preparing her players for whatever comes next.

“I hope our players see and feel the authenticity and desire for them to be really good, not just at basketball, but at whatever they decide to do,” said Moore. “At the end of the day, that's what it's all about, to help them reach their full potential.”

Under Moore’s leadership, Harvard women’s basketball is no longer a team chasing past success — it’s a program building its own legacy. With every win, defensive stop, and moment of resilience, it’s clear Carrie Moore has raised the bar for what Harvard can achieve on the hardwood.

—Staff writer Oscar E. Mercado can be reached at oscar.mercado@thecrimson.com