June 27, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford head women's basketball coach Mike Morris announces the hiring of Claire Moon to the Bulldogs' staff. Moon returns to Samford where she was a graduate assistant for two years before going to Wright State for the 2001-02 season.

"We are very excited and fortunate to have Claire join our staff," said Morris. "She has a great understanding of the game and her work ethic and intelligence will be tremendous assets to our program."

Moon graduated from Berry College in 1998, where she was a NAIA 3rd team All-American. She was the 1997 Northwest Georgia Player of the Year and garnered 1994 Georgia Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

She spent two seasons on the Samford staff under coach Janet Cone before being named as an assistant coach at Wright State. While at Wright State, she assisted in every aspect of the program from on-court coaching to recruiting and academic enhancement.

"I had a great experience at Wright State, but I could not pass up the opportunity to be closer to home," Moon said, " I am very excited about working with Coach Morris and continuing to build the program at Samford."

Moon is a native of Tifton, Ga. She received her bachelor of science degree in Health and Physical Education from Berry and her master's degree in Educational Leadership from UAB in 2001.