Lexington High School recently welcomed new Athletic Director Wes Moore into town.

Moore graduated from Dickson High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Oklahoma State University.

Additionally, Moore holds a Master’s degree in Management from Southern Nazarene University as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from East Central University.

Moore began his career as a coach and teacher at Norman Public Schools but eventually returned to Dickson due to an illness in the family.

“Most recently, when I stepped back into [coaching], I went to Westmoore as a football and basketball coach, but I finished coaching football and track last year,” Moore said.

Moore has spent 18 years coaching various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, track and cross country. However, this will be his first time as an athletic director.

“After sitting down and talking with the administrative team in the interview, I really looked at it as an opportunity to further my career. It’s a little bit of change, but it’s a change in the direction I’m going,” Moore said.

“Having experience at a very large school, even doing the leadership academy there, brings a different element,” he added. “The administration team believes that, and I think that is why they selected me.”

Following brief introductions to the coaches and administrators, Moore immediately went to work.

“Usually, you look forward to starting a new job, but it started pretty quickly. So I think at this point, it’s really just waiting to see all the kids participate in athletics and all the smiles on their faces,” he said.

“I’ve been able to go and see our baseball team playing red dirt games, both our boys and girls basketball teams in camp, our cheer teams in practice and there’s a band activity today that I plan on stepping in and seeing,” Moore added.

Due to his responsibilities as a former coach and current athletic director, Moore doesn’t get much time off but enjoys cooking and spending time with his wife.

“I love to cook outside on the grill. Other than that, I’m usually at a gym or ball field watching my students,” he said.

Because managing an athletic department can be challenging and time-consuming, Moore pointed out how important patience and trust will be to ensure Lexington’s student-athletes are getting the best experience possible.

“The big thing is one, taking it one day at a time, and two, believing in my coaching staff,” Moore said.

“I rely heavily on them so that they trust me to do my job, and at the same time, I trust them with all our student-athletes. I think that support system needs to be stronger than anything.

“Athletics is something that saved me from probably making a lot of bad choices in my life. So if I can step into a role and be an advocate for athletics and make sure I’m a shining light for these kids, that’s what I plan on doing.”