POSTED 3/29/07 AT 2:45 P.M.

Tom Moore was officially named as the new head coach of the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team at the TD Banknorth Sports Center Thursday afternoon.

“To be chosen to lead this men’s basketball program at such a dynamic and exciting time in this university’s development is an incredible honor,” said Moore, who becomes the sixth head coach in school history. “We will strive for excellence in all we do on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

“Our players will be committed, together and tough-minded. And they will work right here in this beautiful TD Banknorth Sports Center and on Lender Court to represent the university in a first-class manner.”

Moore comes to Quinnipiac after serving under UConn head coach Jim Calhoun since the start of the 1994-95 season. In 2005, he was promoted to associate head coach. Moore also logged time on the recruiting trail where he built a reputation for having an excellent eye for talent.

Since becoming a coach in Storrs, he helped turn the Huskies into a national powerhouse. UConn won the NCAA championship in 1999 and 2004 and has won eight Big East regular season titles. In his 13-year span there, Moore either recruited or coached players like Ray Allen, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon.

Calhoun was on hand Thursday to see his top assistant take the reigns at Quinnipiac, a program that he feels is on the rise.

“You can win [at Quinnipiac] because people care about it,” Calhoun said. “Programs are either taken for granted or don’t have the resources to really help themselves. Here, [this program] is going forward very quickly. There aren’t many things that Tom is going to want for.”

Aside from the new arena and strong commitment from Quinnipiac, Calhoun feels like Moore will play just as big a role in making the Bobcats a successful team.

“Tom Moore gives Quinnipiac an advantage,” he said.

This will not be Moore’s first time as a head coach. He held the position at Division III Worcester State from 1989-1994 before heading to UConn. The New Haven Register previously reported that St. Bonaventure and South Florida were interested in Moore, but that both were also considering other candidates.

Although Moore hasn’t had a chance to meet with his new team yet, he already has a game plan in mind for the upcoming season.

“Offensively, I’d like to play fast and try to combine that with taking quality shots,” Moore said. “I think the basic goal that we will try to stand for is to limit the amount of good shots the other team gets and limit their second chances.”

Moore takes over for former head coach Joe DeSantis, who led the program for 11 seasons before being fired March 7.